The United States should build on the civilian nuclear deal with India by negotiating a full-fledged bilateral free trade agreement, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said.
Terming the nuclear deal, which allows civilian nuclear trade with India for the first time in 30 years, as a 'good beginning,' the Tennessee Republican said: "We can't let this energy agreement stand alone. . . Once the US and India settle the thorny outstanding trade issues in the World Trade Organidation talks, the President should begin an effort to negotiate a full scale US-Indian free-trade agreement," said Frist, who was one of the Congressional leaders who pushed hard for the passage of the Bill enabling the nuclear deal.
"America's economic prosperity and security would benefit," from the deal, Frist, who is is retiring from the Senate after being there for 12 years said in The Examiner. "The hard work of finalising the US-India nuclear cooperation agreement last week convinced me that the world's two largest democracies need to develop a strong trade partnership based on free exchange of goods and ideas. Most senators recognise we need to improve our relationship with India and that's why the nuclear cooperation pact attracted overwhelming support before it finally passed last week," he said.
Should it come to fruition, a US-India free trade agreement would comprise over a quarter of the world's economy -- the largest free trade zone in history, he said, adding that "a free trade agreement with India, quite simply, is a national imperative. We should start work towards one without delay."
While the World Trade Organisation's ongoing Doha Round talks have been stalled on agricultural issues, "we cannot let these differences stop all progress. The prospect of a much broader trade agreement might be just the thing to get the talks moving again," Frist said.
He said India's growing middle class provides a fertile market for American goods and its 'skyrocketting' economic growth creates a strong environment for American investors.
"Trade volumes have already begun to grow and, with a trade agreement, they would grow further. Between 2001 and 2005 alone, trade between the US and India increased from $14 billion to $26 billion, he pointed out adding in the same period, over one million Indians -- the great majority of them skilled professionals -- have also moved to the US to work and set up businesses. By letting both countries do what they do best, opening up trade with India will continue to increase the standard of living in both countries," Frist maintained going on to make the point that both countries faced the "mortal threat" from radical Islam.
"Islamic fascist terrorists have killed more citizens of India than those of any other country. India's position as the world's largest democracy and its ever-growing economy means that Al Qaeda and their ilk will target it even more often in the future.
"The US must stand with our democratic allies like India as we continue to wage a global war on terror" he said. Frist has argued that the US should also consider countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to join agreements Washington makes with India but that as India plays a leadership role in its region, it should be the first country that should be approached.