First meeting under India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue scheduled in May

New Delhi and Washington announced the formation of the dialogue during the visit of US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to India in March 2023. The dialogue aims to address export controls, explore ways to enhance high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer.

“Both sides recognized the need to enhance bilateral strategic and high technology trade and cooperation, given the shared priority of building resilient and reliable global supply chains and the mutual interest in furthering the outcomes of the ICET. In that context, the US Department of Commerce and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs plan to launch the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue…,” both sides announced at the time.

The talks will be led by the Foreign Secretary of India and the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at the US Department of Commerce.

Rozman, who serves as the US assistant secretary of commerce for the Export Administration, was in New Delhi to speak with Indian officials and industry to discuss dual-use export controls. “Dual-use” is a term used to refer to technologies that can have both civilian and military applications.

Kendler argued that the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue would prove to be a building block for the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET). The ICET, which is run by national security advisors in both countries, aims to build cooperation in a range of critical technologies such as semiconductors, biotechnology, advanced materials and rare-earth processing technology.

Kendler compared the dialogue as an attempt to promote greater security for both countries through the use of export controls.

“We remain focused on our common interest in safe trade. Export controls provide that foundation or building block for protecting global peace and security, while not unnecessarily interfering with commercial commerce,” he said here in New Delhi. said in a press conference.

“Stronger strategic trade controls enable us to share technology that we may not share with others. Our strategic trade dialogue, shared commitment to export controls paves the way for this high-tech collaboration.”

In addition to meetings with the Indian government, the US officials also met with industry bodies such as the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association, the US India Business Council, NASSCOM and the American Chamber of Commerce. The discussion centered around mechanisms within the US Strategic Trade Control System that would facilitate faster trade to Indian industries.

Russia and China also joined the discussion. Despite Western technology sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has attempted to acquire technology for its military from third countries.

“We are actively following the trade diversion and backfilling data very closely and taking responsive measures. So we look forward to continuing the dialogue with India and are very excited to work on expanding opportunities for collaboration and cooperation in high-tech trade,” Kendler said.

“China has a tough question, because they have this military-civilian fusion strategy, which makes it very difficult for Indian companies and American companies to know their end users, we ask the companies to do their due diligence. If you don’t know that the government is going to take over some technology, if you don’t know that the entity you’re shipping is sharing that commercial technology with a military actor, it’s It’s really tough for the industry and we want to make sure we’re providing the best advice,” Kendler said.