ITC investigates India’s policies against U.S. trade

   The U.S. International Trade Commission has started an investigation to examine a wide range of Indian policies that allegedly discriminate against U.S. trade and investment.
   The investigation, Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies in India: Effects on the U.S. Economy, was requested jointly by the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees.
   ITC, a nonpartisan, fact-finding agency, will report on recent policies and measures in India that affect U.S. exports and investment and evaluate the effects of such barriers on U.S. firms and the U.S. economy.
   In its examination, ITC will enumerate restrictive trade and investment policies that India maintains or has recently adopted, determine which sectors of the U.S. economy are most affected by these policies, and describe the competitiveness of Indian firms in these sectors. The agency will provide several case studies of U.S. firms or industries that have been particularly affected by India’s restrictions.
   As requested, ITC will also perform a quantitative analysis of the effects of India’s measures. The agency will survey a sample of U.S. firms to measure perceptions of India’s policies and the impact of those policies on firms’ strategies toward India. The survey results will complement the quantitative analysis of the effects of these policies on trade, investment, and the U.S. economy, ITC said.
   ITC will deliver the report to the committees by Nov. 30, 2014.
   In addition, ITC will hold a public hearing related to the investigation on Feb. 13, 2014. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2014, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.