US Exporters Continue To Encounter Significant Barriers In India: Report

According to the report, the US goods trade deficit with India was USD 23.8 billion in last year, a 1.7-per-cent increase (USD 389 million) over 2019.

The Biden administration has alleged that US exporters continued to encounter significant tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the imports of its products into India. In its annual 2021 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Wednesday that while the Indian government pursued ongoing economic reform efforts, it also continued to promote programmes like ''Make in India'' that favour domestic production over importation. "Additionally, in May 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the "Self-Reliant India" (Atmanirbhar Bharat) initiative to increase self-sufficiency by promoting domestic industry and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers," the USTR said in the India section of the voluminous report running into more than 570 pages. "The United States has actively sought bilateral and multilateral opportunities to increase access to India's market," it said. "Nevertheless, U.S. exporters continue to encounter significant tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede imports of U.S. products into India."