Govt invites US to discuss IP, market access issues

This, after US didn't downgrade India but kept it on its priority watchlist

Government has proposed holding wider bilateral talks with the United States to address concerns over intellectual property rights and access to the Indian market for US firms, its commerce secretary said on Thursday.

The US Trade Representative on Wednesday avoided labelling India with its worst offender tag in its annual scorecard on protecting US patents, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.

The United States kept India, which is holding a general election, on its Priority Watch List along with China and eight other countries. It said it would start a special review of India in the fall and address concerns with the next government.

"It is a very sensible decision," Rajeev Kher, commerce secretary and India's chief trade negotiator, told Reuters. "They know very well that India is in transition."

Kher said India's Patent Law was compliant with the rules of the World Trade Organization and the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Still, India was ready to discuss the issues with Washington.

Kher also said that he would meet the US deputy trade representative in June or July, after the country's general election, to discuss protection of intellectual property rights.

Kher said India did not see compulsory licensing as a routine instrument for importing technology. The practice was compliant with the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).