As the US fights China on issues of intellectual property at the World Trade Organization, India asked Washington on Friday to address the issue of easy availability of pirated Indian films and music in the American market.
"At the Trade Policy Forum meeting, we raised the issue of widespread availability of pirated Indian films and music in the US... it can be found in any grocery store.
The US has assured to look into it," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said. The forum was set up in 2005 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the US.
The issue of delay in giving licenses to Indian banks by US also figured in the talks, he said. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said the administration would encourage dialogue between the Federal
According to officials, some banks have been waiting for over 18 years for permission to start operations in the US.
Both sides also discussed the possibility of signing a Totalisation Agreement aimed at exempting Indians on short- term assignments to the US from social security taxes.
This has been a long standing demand of Indian IT industry as many of their employees, who are stationed in US for short periods, have to pay social security taxes from which they derive no benefit. Schwab said the forum seeks to address numerous impediments, synchronise standards and protect public health, while keeping the trade flowing.
"We seek to bring down tariffs and address non-tariff barriers," she said.
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