US considers 'treaty country' status for India, easier visas

The United States government is considering proposals by India for a pact on social security pertaining to non-resident Indians and to be granted “treaty country status”, which will open up new E1 and E2 visa options for Indian businessfolk travelling to American cities, commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

The minister was speaking after discussions between the Indian side and visiting US trade representative Katherine Tai, in which both sides agreed on steps that will open up trade between the countries. The two countries also recently resolved seven trade disputes bilaterally.

Goyal said the visa issue is not directly linked with the commerce ministry and Tai as it pertains to ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the internal security office in the US. “But we want that this matter should be considered from the angle of a trade-enabler. [Bilateral] trade should be promoted,” and USTR could “support” our views in mutual interest, he said on Saturday after the 14th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting.

The commerce minister and USTR co-chaired the TPF meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

Goyal said the commerce ministry and the MEA are on the same page “with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s whole-of-government approach”. External affairs minister S Jaishankar met Tai on Friday and appreciated “the tremendous progress” made in bilateral trade recently.