Mangoes, bikes lift India-US trade to new highs

NEW DELHI: India and the United States said on Friday that bilateral trade was expected to touch new heights, revved up by imports of US motorcycles and the sale of Indian mangoes to Americans.   

After years of blocking the import of Indian fruits, the United States last year allowed Indian mangoes into its domestic markets during a visit to New Delhi by US President George W. Bush in March 2006.   

"Last year, total bilateral trade in goods rose to close to 32 billion dollars," US Trade Representatives Susan Schwab told a business forum in New Delhi.   

"This year, total combined trade in goods and services could well surpass 50 billion dollars," she said.   

Schwab's Indian counterpart Kamal Nath said Indian and US trade delegations had exhaustive discussions on bilateral trade "from Harley Davidsons to mangoes."   

"The good news is that Harley Davidsons will come to India and Indian mangoes will go the United States" this year, he said.   

Both sides also discussed infringement of intellectual property rights with New Delhi asking Washington to crack down on those marketing pirated versions of Indian films in the US market.   

"We raised the issue of widespread availability of pirated Indian films and music in the US... it can be found in any grocery store. The US has assured us it will look into it," Nath said.   

Schwab noted that more Indian organic produce would be flowing to the United States as it can now be certified by Indian agents, and called on Nath to further lower tariffs to boost trade and "generate a win-win" situation.