U.S. pressing India for wheat, rice market details

The first-of-its-kind notification filed under the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Agriculture claims India “substantially underreported” its market price support.    The U.S. government has asked the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Agriculture to press India to provide a clearer picture into its market price support for wheat and rice. 
   The notification, which was submitted Friday, is the first of its kind to be filed with the Committee of Agriculture (COA) under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.
   “India represents a massive market, and we want greater access for U.S. products, but India must be transparent about their practices,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement Wednesday. “For trade to be free and fair, all parties must abide by their WTO commitments.”
   Based on its analysis, the U.S. government said it believes India has “substantially underreported” its market price support for wheat and rice. 
   “When calculated according to WTO Agreement on Agriculture methodology, India’s market price support for wheat and rice far exceeded its allowable levels of trade, distorting domestic support,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. “The United States expects a robust discussion on how India implements and notifies its policies at the next COA meeting.”
   The WTO Committee of Agriculture is scheduled to meet in June.