US agrees to ease defence technology transfer

Moving on the principle that high-technology commerce with India should reflect the transformed nature of their strategic partnership, the United States has agreed to address India’s concern on further easing its licensing requirements on restricted items, including items used in defence purposes.

The issue came up for discussion during the sixth meeting of the High-Technology Cooperation Group between the two countries on February 28 and 29 which was attended by the US Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Mario Mancuso, and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

“In the area of defence, the group agreed on an ambitious plan to give an impetus to high-technology transfers and trade that would address all issues related to licensing and the implementation of India’s defence offsets policy,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said.