Disappointed with India blocking WTO trade deal, says US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

MUMBAI: The US is "very disappointed" with India's stand at the ongoing Trade Facilitation Agreement talks at the WTO but Washington continues to be optimistic about salvaging the deal within tomorrow's deadline, a top Obama administration official said here today.

"We are very disappointed that India has taken a step back from its agreements that it made in December (last) at the WTO," visiting US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker told PTI during an interaction here.

The comments come in wake of New Delhi's tough stand which has put a question mark on the passage of the TFA at the ongoing Geneva talks aimed at easing customs rules in the WTO's 160 member countries.

India is seeking a guarantee on food security for its hundreds of millions of poor as a pre-condition for the passage of the pact.

The agreement, drafted during a ministerial at the Indonesian resort town of Bali last December, has to be sealed by July 31.

"I am an optimist, I am hopeful that over the next couple of days there is some potential for resolution... I'm hopeful that even in the last remaining days India might find a way to come to a solution on this issue," Pritzker said.