U.S. acts to improve high-tech trade with India

U.S. acts to improve high-tech trade with India    The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday took the first steps to implement the export control policy initiatives announced by President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Singh on Nov. 8, 2010.
   'Today's action marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and moving forward with export control reforms that will facilitate high technology trade and cooperation,' said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, in a statement.
   Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security also on Monday published a Federal Register notice which updates the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in several ways related to U.S. high-tech trade with India, including:
   ' Removing several Indian space- and defense-related companies from the Entity List. (Removal from the Entity List eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies, and results in the removed companies being treated the same way as any other destination in India for export licensing purposes.)
   ' Removing India from several country groups in the EAR resulting in the removal of export license requirements that were tied to India's placement in those country groups.
   ' Adding India to a country group in the EAR that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India’s adherence to the regime, the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and India’s global non-proliferation standing.
   'These changes reaffirm the U.S. commitment to work with India on our mutual goal of strengthening the global nonproliferation framework,' said Eric L. Hirschhorn, undersecretary of commerce.
   In February, Locke will lead 24 U.S. businesses on a high-tech trade mission to India. The delegation, which also includes senior officials from the Export-Import Bank and the Trade Development Agency, will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.