Uranium to be part of FTA between Inida, Australia

With India expected to kick off free trade negotiations with Australia tomorrow, the opposition party here today called for inclusion of uranium sale issue in the negotiations.

Indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma will reach Canberra tomorrow to start talks on the deal that could potentially deliver about AUD 30 billion into the economy over the next 20 years.

"They should take the opportunity to open negotiations for the sale of Australian uranium to India," opposition trade spokesperson Julie Bishop was today quoted by a news agency.

Bishop also talked about the need for Australia to know how India was going to deal with climate change and the importance of smoothing down a diplomatic relationship that was recently challenged by student bashings in Melbourne.

Earlier, Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said Indian negotiations would commence with Australia seeking an outline of early objectives.

"Such a deal would broaden the base of merchandise trade, remove barriers to services trade, facilitate and encourage investment, and address behind-the-border obstacles to trade," Emerson said in a statement.

However, a feasibility study conducted earlier this year by India's Department of Commerce has said, "It is important to note that services trade data does not take account of services delivered by Australian companies with a commercial presence in India."

"Australian companies have established a presence in a range of Indian services sectors such as engineering, infrastructure design, health, financial services and mining services industries," it said.