The United States said on Wednesday it will press
India's new prime minister to end his blockage of a global trade pact when he
visits Washington this month, something that could dampen the mood of a trip
aimed at revitalizing strategic ties.
US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha
Biswal said India "does itself a discredit"
by blocking the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) reached in Bali last year,
rekindling a dispute that overshadowed an Aug. 1 meeting between US Secretary
of State John Kerry and Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in New Delhi.
In a conference call previewing Modi's
Sept. 29-30 visit to Washington for a first meeting with President Barack
Obama, Biswal said the World Trade Organization
agreement to ease worldwide customs rules would "certainly" be a
topic for conversation.
"We've made our position very clear, which is
that while we are very sympathetic to the food-security concerns the prime
minister has voiced, we do believe that the trade facilitation agreement is a
very, very important agreement," she said.
In late July, India torpedoed the deal after
demanding concessions on agricultural stockpiling.