U.S. pressuring India to drastically reduce imports from Russia in Trade Talks

India’s purchase of Russian arms and weaponry gets “under the skin of America”. This is an irritant in Indo-US relations, according to Howard Lutnik, US commerce secretary.

- BY ANJAN ROY

That aside, India was a great country with diverse assets, particularly its talented people capable of achieving break-throughs in areas like artificial intelligence. The US views were articulated by the US commerce secretary Lutnik while speaking with the Indian TV network, ANI, in Washington, DC.

Lutnik explained that US president Donald Trump had his first priority of America First in advanced manufacturing. However, beyond that America has entire areas of co-operation open with friends and allies which could be explored by India. Lutnik pointed out that some of these highest tech and advanced areas of manufacturing were being promoted by America as a matter of considered policy.

Outside that specific group of manufacturing an enormous area of manufacturing was open for India to exploit and the country could access the US market with these products. There would be great scope for win win solutions for both the centuries in these areas of industrial co-operation.

There is some logic and approach underlying what commerce secretary Lutnik was referring to. Over 90% of general merchandise, catering to the consumption basket of ordinary Americans, were currently being supplied by China. This was resulting in huge trade surplus of China vis avis USA.