Alliance for Fair Trade with India to Protect U.S. Economy and Jobs
A new alliance representing major sectors of the U.S. economy was launched yesterday in support of increased action to resolve discriminatory trade practices, including the erosion of intellectual property (IP) rights in India. The Alliance for Fair Trade with India (AFTI) is co-chaired by the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center.
A Press Release by the Alliance states,
Over the last year, the Government of India has systematically discriminated against a wide range of U.S. innovative products and exports in order to benefit India's business and industrial community at the expense of American jobs. These actions constitute a disturbing trend that puts at risk a growing bilateral trade relationship worth over $60 billion in 2012 alone.
India's unfair trade practices against U.S. manufactured exports is putting jobs at risk and harming American manufacturing workers. The Obama Administration must engage the Indian government in high-level discussions to put an end to these practices to protect manufacturers' competitiveness and jobs.
In recent months, India has systematically failed to respect global intellectual property standards, causing an impact to its investment potential. From unprecedented patent revocations and denials to insufficient copyright enforcement, India has established itself as an outlier in the global economy. If this is truly to be India's ‘Decade of Innovation,' the government must promote robust IP policies that incubate both home-grown and international innovators.
In the coming weeks, AFTI will work with the Administration and members of Congress to pursue public policy options that help create a level playing field for U.S. exporters operating in India. Additionally, AFTI will outline the consequences of inaction, specifically as they relate to job creation, economic growth and continued innovation.