India more open on trade dialogue than China, Russia: US

The US government has said that India is more open to dialogue with it on bilateral trade negotiations than Brazil, China and Russia, although all these countries together need to do more at global level under the Doha round.

"We've had a number of bilateral meetings with each of those partners (India, China, Brazil and Russia). India, at least, has been the most open to dialogue with us," the US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, said at a Congressional hearing yesterday.

"China has been wonderfully Chinese. I will leave it at that...," he said.

On the Doha round, Kirk said, "We have moved them to understand that they had to supplement our negotiations in Geneva with these bilateral discussions, frankly, trying to get Russia, Brazil, India and China. And I want to make it careful, when I was asked about my outlook, I don't know that I'd say I'm overly encouraged."

Earlier in his prepared testimony, Kirk said emerging markets like India, China and Brazil need to make contribution commensurate with their position in the global economy.

He said although US remains committed to the Doha round, "Success will depend particularly on engagement by emerging markets such as China, Brazil, and India, which must make contributions commensurate with their position in the global economy".

However, later at the hearing, Kirk said he is less discouraged than he was before. "I would say that our efforts have led to an acknowledgment that there needs to be more on the table ... "

Kirk said among his most pressing concerns on agricultural non-tariff measures are Chinese and Indian certification requirements for US dairy exports, and unjustified barriers on beef, pork, and poultry products in China, Japan, Taiwan, and elsewhere.

"The Obama Administration is committed to trade policies that keep American farmers and ranchers supplying high quality food and fiber around the world," he added.