U.S. Committed To See Trade With India Achieves Full Potential

Washington: Even as the U.S. dragged India to the WTO on the alleged discriminatory solar policy, the Obama Administration has reiterated its commitment to ensure that bilateral trade reaches its full potential.

"We have a strong and growing trade and investment relationship with India, and we both remain committed to seeing that it achieves its full potential," U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Mike Froman said.

"Let me just say that when President Obama went to India in 2010, he noted that the U.S.-India relationship was one of a strategic partnership - and in fact, a defining partnership of the 21st century," he added.

"An important part of any maturing trade relationship is effectively addressing the range of issues on our trade and investment agenda, including in areas where we might disagree," Froman told reporters soon after he announced that the U.S. has challenged the domestic content requirements for solar power equipment imposed by India in 'Phase II' of its National Solar Mission.

"Today's action addresses a specific issue of concern and in no way detracts from the importance we attach to this relationship," Froman said alleging that domestic content requirements discriminate against U.S. exports by requiring solar power developers to use Indian-manufactured equipment instead of U.S. equipment.

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