The U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) is an interagency collaboration led by the U.S. Trade Representative. It is the principal trade dialogue between the United States and India. It has five Focus Groups: Agriculture, Investment, Innovation & Creativity (intellectual property rights), Services, and Tariff & Non-Tariff Barriers. U.S. and Indian Focus Group chairs meet periodically to work towards resolution of issues that impede trade and investment flows. Five ministerial-level meetings were held between 2005 and 2008, and success was achieved to usher in U.S. apple and almond exports to India and Indian mango exports to the United States; and an increase in the cap on FDI in the Indian telecommunications sector.

The United States and India announced the establishment of a new standing bilateral committee on July 18, 2005, to replace the U.S.–India Working Group on Trade, which was established in 2000. The TPF is co-chaired by the U.S. Trade Representative and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, or their Deputies.

U.S. exports of agricultural products to India totaled $489 million in 2008. Leading categories include: tree nuts ($187 million), cotton ($103 million), and pulses ($63 million). U.S. imports of agricultural products from India totaled $1.6 billion in 2008, the 16th largest supplier of ag imports. Leading categories include: tree nuts ($243 million), spices ($179 million), and essential oils ($146 million).

See the Fact Sheet for more information about the TPF and its Focus Group on Agriculture.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• India and China: Divergent Markets for U.S. Agricultural Exports (.pdf; 02/24/10)
   

• The Environment for Agricultural and Agribusiness Investment in India (Economic Research Service; 07/09/08)
   

• Indian Wheat and Rice Sector Policies and the Implications for Policy Reform (Economic Research Service; 05/03/07)
   

• U.S.–India Trade Policy Forum, Focus Group on Agriculture:
  • Joint Record on Agricultural Accomplishments, Meeting in New Delhi (05/30/06)
  • Joint Record on Agricultural Accomplishments, Meeting in Washington, DC (02/17/06)
  • Joint Record on Agricultural Accomplishments, Meeting via videoconference (01/01/06)
     
• U.S.–India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative

U.S. Trade Representative

• United States and India Sign Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment (03/17/10)

The White House

• Stimulating Global Economic Revival: U.S.–India Cooperation in Economics, Trade, and Agriculture (11/24/09)

U.S. Department of State

• U.S. Aims To Double Two-Way Trade with India over Three Years (03/02/06)
   
• U.S., India Set Up Government, Business Forums To Promote Trade (07/18/05)
   
• Reaching New Heights: U.S. India Relations in the 21st Century (.pdf; 2005)

World Bank

• India: Foreign Trade Policy