WASHINGTON -- The United States has agreed to lift import bans and
licensing requirements stemming from New Dehli's testing of nuclear weapons
in 1998.
U.S. officials said the lifting of the ban will affect many agriculture,
textiles and consumer products. They said the move would allow U.S.
companies access to the Indian market.
"Eliminating these restrictions will provide -- for the first time in
fifty years for some products -- market access opportunities for U.S.
producers in key sectors such as textiles, agriculture, consumer goods and a
wide variety of manufactured products, and at the same time will stimulate
investment competition, and economic activity in India," U.S. Trade
Representative Charlene Barshefsky said on Monday.
Officials said India agreed to more than 1,400 restrictions, half of
which will be lifted within three months. The remaining restrictions will be
lifted by April 2001. India bans imports of industrial, textile and
agricultural products and channels others through state monopolies.
President Bill Clinton is expected to visit India over the next few
weeks.
In an unrelated development, Indian sources on Tuesday said an entire
town has been destroyed in fighting with Islamic insurgents. The sources at
least 100 shops stores and buildings were torched in the town of Pattan.
The sources said Islamic insurgents ambushed an army patrol and killed
two soldiers near the Srinagar-Sopor highway. The army responded with fire
that sparked a blaze throughout the town.
