[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 928 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 928

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
      the trade relationship between the United States and India.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 17, 2008

   Mr. Dreier (for himself and Mr. Crowley) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
      the trade relationship between the United States and India.

Whereas the United States and India are the world's two largest democracies;
Whereas the bilateral relationship between the two countries is based on a 
        shared commitment to the fundamental values of democracy, the rule of 
        law, political pluralism, and economic opportunity;
Whereas this bilateral relationship has taken on a new vibrancy in recent years 
        as the two countries cooperate increasingly on key issues such as 
        energy, security, public health, and the promotion of democracy;
Whereas India has the world's 12th largest economy in nominal gross domestic 
        product (GDP), but rises to the world's 3d largest economy when measured 
        by purchasing power parity;
Whereas, in 1991, India embarked on an economic liberalization agenda with the 
        intent of stimulating economic growth;
Whereas India's economic reforms in the intervening years have led to the 
        doubling of its middle class as a percentage of total population;
Whereas increased trade flows and greater global economic competitiveness have 
        led to high growth in India in recent years, including GDP growth of 9.2 
        percent in 2006;
Whereas the rise of the Indian economy has significantly enhanced the economic 
        relationship between the United States and India;
Whereas trade between the United States and India was valued at $32,000,000,000 
        in 2006;
Whereas United States exports to India have doubled over the last five years;
Whereas the United States is India's largest trading partner;
Whereas the United States is India's largest investment partner;
Whereas the United States and India established the U.S.-India Economic Dialogue 
        on March 23, 2000, in order to enhance their bilateral economic 
        relationship;
Whereas the Economic Dialogue was expanded in 2005 to include three new 
        initiatives--the Information and Communication Technology Working Group, 
        the CEO Forum, and the U.S.-India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative;
Whereas new opportunities in the Indian market have increased the 
        competitiveness of United States companies that are globally engaged, 
        and have helped to create new jobs in the United States, while improving 
        the quality of life for Indians as well;
Whereas the liberalization process in India is still underway;
Whereas significant barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and capital 
        still exist in the Indian market;
Whereas 650,000,000 Indians still live in poverty and lack access to the 
        opportunities offered by the worldwide marketplace;
Whereas Indian tariff and nontariff barriers to trade are even more damaging to 
        the Indian economy than to the United States economy;
Whereas the protection of intellectual property rights is a key issue for the 
        United States economy in the 21st century;
Whereas India's increasingly technology- and knowledge-based economy is also 
        facing a growing need for rigorous protection of intellectual property 
        rights;
Whereas a market-based, technology-neutral regulatory environment is critical to 
        fostering innovation;
Whereas services account for a majority of both the United States and Indian 
        economies;
Whereas India has pursued free trade agreements with a number of its regional 
        trading partners;
Whereas the United States and India continue to participate in multilateral 
        talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO);
Whereas the United States is committed to continuing its leadership in the WTO, 
        working toward a comprehensive agreement that brings about meaningful 
        liberalization in the developed and developing worlds; and
Whereas the United States is committed to working within a multilateral context 
        to reduce subsidies, increase market access for all goods and services, 
        and reduce nontariff barriers to trade: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States should initiate negotiations to enter 
        into a free trade agreement with India; and
            (2) the United States and India should continue to 
        vigorously pursue multilateral negotiations for a broad-based 
        reduction in tariffs, subsidies, and other non-tariff barriers 
        to trade throughout the developed and developing worlds.
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