India, US to talk trade forum revival, IPR

India and the US are likely to revive the Trade Policy Forum, discuss issues related to intellectual property rights (IPR) and market access for agricultural goods such as cherries, pomegranates and pecans this week during United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai's visit.

Tai's two-day visit, starting Monday, comes ahead of a crucial ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) next week.

"Some long standing bilateral agricultural issues could be discussed," said an official. "Our wish list includes market access for table grapes and pomegranate arils while the US wants duty cuts on certain products such as pecans, walnuts and almonds." India's goods exports to the US in FY21 were $51.6 billion while imports were $28.8 billion.


The commerce and industry ministry has already sought comments and suggestions from industry on their concerns and difficulties such as filing, registration, enforcement or commercialisation of IP rights in the US, which can be taken up in the forum.

As per another source, Tai will meet commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and some other senior ministers during her visit, the first as US' chief trade negotiator.

Earlier this month, Tai and Goyal met virtually, wherein they agreed to take a comprehensive look at ways to expand trade relationship, ensure success of the Trade Policy Forum and find meaningful outcomes at the ministerial.

In agriculture, the US wants India to allow import of certain American products such as cherries, alfalfa hay and pork. It also wants India to accept the dairy export certificate agreed upon in 2020. In return, India is hopeful of simplified procedures for export of its mangoes, grapes and pomegranate arils, and market access for bovine meat.

The two sides have decided to hold the Trade Policy Forum after four years, and key bilateral trade issues - especially the ones related to IPRs - are expected to be taken up.

The timing of Tai's visit is important as Washington has partially supported the India-South Africa proposal on waiver of some provisions of copyrights, industrial designs, patents and protection of undisclosed information in the Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for prevention, containment or treatment of Covid-19. It is now sponsored by 64 WTO members. WTO wants to reach an agreement on the global response to the pandemic and India wants the waiver proposal to be part of the response.