Soda Ash - Us To Review Trade Benefits For India

The US government has said that it will consider linking benefits enjoyed by Indian exports under the Gernealised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme to market access for US soda ash. The veiled warning implies in effect that the US government is hinting that it might withdraw GSP benefits to Indian exports unless fair and equitable market access is given to US soda ash exports to India. India's exports to the US under the GSP scheme are now worth around US£$400m, and textiles, gems and jewellery account for the bulk of these. The US position has been conveyed in a joint letter written by US trade representative (USTR) Charlene Barshefsky and commerce secretary William Daley to commercal and industry minister Murasoli Maran.