U.S. Chamber Statement on U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum

WASHINGTON — Ambassador (ret.) Atul Keshap, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council, issued the following statement on the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, taking place in Washington, D.C. on January 11, 2023:

“American companies are increasingly looking to India as a growing consumer market, critical talent pool, and a high-trust geography for resilient and secure supply chains. With the business community facing a volatile geopolitical environment and a potentially challenging year for growth, strengthening U.S.-India trade ties is an essential and pressing responsibility.

“The business community is hoping that both governments approach the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum with a sense of vision, urgency, and ambition. To sustain progress on trade, both governments can usefully work together to make steady and incremental progress that sends signals of confidence, convergence, and trust to both our business communities. Implementing already negotiated agreements will also bolster investor confidence. Waiting for all-or-nothing comprehensive agreements will only slow our shared goal of achieving a $500 billion trade relationship.

“An enabling trade environment will help our societies sharpen their edge in critical and emerging technologies and retain competitiveness on the world stage. As both governments negotiate difficult and intricate trade provisions, we are encouraged by their awareness that greater commercial engagement between the world’s two largest democracies is vital if free societies are to shape the future of global prosperity.”