READOUT of the Meeting Between U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman met with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma in Brunei Darussalam today on the margins of the meeting of the Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Ambassador Froman and Minister Sharma together welcomed the announcement today of the September visit of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington, DC. Ambassador Froman underscored the importance of achieving progress on outstanding bilateral issues of concern on trade and investment between the United States and India prior to the meeting of our leaders.
As in an earlier meeting of all ASEAN Economic Ministers today, Ambassador Froman also reiterated the value for the broad membership of the World Trade Organization in seeing current talks on a package of agreements move forward, including a binding trade facilitation agreement that will benefit all countries, especially developing ones. Ambassador Froman noted the short time for all members to come together with good will to work toward results at the 9th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Bali, Indonesia this December.
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