US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said here on Wednesday that Washington is prepared to work with New Delhi to sort out bilateral trade skirmishes and address India’s concerns on energy security in the backdrop of American sanctions against Iran. “Great friends are bound to have disagreements. The US has been clear that we want greater market access and trade-barrier removal. Today, I addressed these differences in the spirit of friendship. And the two of us will be able to see a good outcome,” Pompeo said at a press briefing following his bilateral meeting with Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar. Pompeo also met Prime Minister NarendraModi and National Security Advisor AjitDoval.
The US recently withdrew the Generalised System of Preferences benefit offering duty-free access to Indian exporters for certain products, accusing India of ‘unfair market access’. Two weeks later, India imposed duties on 28 American goods as a tit-for-tat for penal duties imposed on its steel and aluminium by the US last year.
