India likely to hold bilateral talks with 4 developed nations

India is expected to hold bilateral trade talks with at least four developed economies - the US, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada -on the sidelines of the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial scheduled next week, officials said on Friday.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

The talks will be held as the ministers congregate to build a consensus on five key points, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) reforms. The bilaterals could also involve issues pertaining to ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday.

India is at various stages of FTA negotiations with the three developed nations and is currently holding the 12th round of talks with the UK, which may get impetus by trade ministers of the two countries when they meet in Jaipur. Barthwal said while the agenda for bilateral talks between the trade ministers of India and the US are yet to be finalised, it is likely to be a follow-up of the Prime Minister's recent visit to America. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in June this year. "We have decided to end the pending issues related to trade and make a fresh start," the PM said on June 23 at the joint press briefing with the US President.