August 6, 2004
ALL TRADE, ALL THE TIME:
Get set to jet set to Uncle Sam (PRIYA RANJAN DASH, 8/06/04, TIMES of India)
India seems to have finally acquired some trade chutzpah. It is all set to offer a free trade agreement on services to the champion of free trade, the US.The offer has already been discussed between prime minister Manmohan Singh and commerce minister Kamal Nath and will be brought to the cabinet shortly.
New Delhi feels the FTA deal would be a win-win for both the countries.
While American banks and insurance companies can open as many branches as they wish in India, get into travel, hospitality, telecom and other service industries, Indian companies can render unhindered services in the US to American companies.
Moreover, Indian professionals like software engineers, accountants and doctors can take up jobs in America without worrying about H1B quotas.
Not content to rest on his laurels as the free tradingest president ever... Posted by Orrin Judd at August 6, 2004 2:23 PM
An FTA with India should be a no-brainer. Any chance it can get done before November?
Posted by: AWW at August 6, 2004 2:31 PMYou mean that Americans will get to own all the motels in India?
Posted by: David Cohen at August 6, 2004 3:16 PM