‘Outsourcing irritant can be managed’

NEW DELHI: A day after Senate Republicans blocked the passage of an anti-outsourcing bill, Democrat-led US on Wednesday made a conciliatory tone, stating the issue, which was an “irritant” in bilateral ties with India, can be “managed”. “In any mature relationship, there will be irritants.

There will be conflicts. But the key is not to focus on any specific conflict or irritant but how we manage those and how we take advantage of that opportunity,” US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez said on the sidelines of an AMCHAM meeting here.

In a move that augured well for India, Senate Republicans blocked the passage of an anti-outsourcing bill that denied tax breaks to the US companies which move jobs overseas, dealing a blow for President Barack Obama.

Mr Sanchez said the US wants increased commercial engagement with India. “Quite frankly, we want to see more Indian companies invest in the US” he said. As a part of Obama’s National Export Initiative US department of commerce international trade administration has targeted India as one of the most promising global markets.