US raises India’s trading status to that of Nato-level list of allies

THE MOVE MEANS INDIA CAN GET EASY ACCESS TO THE LATEST DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES AND A LEGUP FOR COMCASA PACT WHICH THE US WANTS INDIA TO SIGN

WASHINGTON:THE United States on Monday“elevated”india’sstatus as a trading partner to equal that it has accorded only to its NATO allies mostly for the purposes of speeding up the sale of hightech defence and non-defence products that are otherwise subjected to strict controls and licensing.

“We have granted to India Strategic Trade Authorization status STA-1 that’s very (a) important status under our export control regime and acknowledges Us-india security and economic relationship,” said US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross at the Indo-pacific Business Forum.

The move, which will reduce the number of licences needed for US exports to India, also means India can get easy access to the latest defence technologies. It could also mean a leg-up for the foundational COMCASA agreement US is keen to get India to sign, analysts say.

The Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement is one of three agreements the US has with its closest military allies, and will allow installation of high-security US communication equipment on defence equipment being sold to India, thereby, the US argument goes, facilitating interoperability.

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