July 2, 2007

US wants India to liberalise wheat imports
 

The US is asking India to lift its curb on its wheat imports that prevent American firms to supply the grain.

India has just imported one million tonnes of wheat to secure adequate supplies.

US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Agricultural Secretary Mike Johanns have discussed the issue with Indian authorities on the US-India Business Council meeting.

He said ultimately Indian consumers would have to pay extra for the commodity due to barriers on American wheat imports.

In his meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath here, Johanns is also likely to take up the issue of "seed quality cleaning" which US suppliers are reluctant to take due to added costs.

India plans to import five million tonnes of wheat this year, of which a global tender for one million tonnes was floated by State Trading Corporation on June 26.