Washington: Most US trade with India is still subject to barriers, according to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which has issued its 2002 National Trade Estimate (NTE) report on Foreign Trade Barriers (FTB).

The report issued on April 2 says with the elimination of longstanding quantitative restrictions (QRs) in the past year, access to the Indian market has improved. Nonetheless, a broad range of impediments remain, including high taxes and tariffs, and non-tariff barriers, "affecting most trade".

The report also pointed to "serious deficiencies in intellectual property rights protection" also persisting in India.

The report only deals with FTBs, not those barriers US imposes on foreign trade, like on steel, sugar, textiles and a host of other items, observers note.

However, it concedes that there are barriers imposed by the US too.

Releasing the report, US Trade Representative Robert B Zoellick claimed, "the Bush Administration continues to move forward to advance trade and free markets. By identifying barriers to trade, we can work with our trading partners globally, regionally and bilaterally, to eliminate these barriers, while further liberalising our market at home".

Trade improves the economic well-being of Americans, advances freedom around the world, and promotes our nation's security," he said.

PTI