Tuesday 3 October 2017

Trade in focus at hearing for Juster, US ambassador pick for India

Kenneth Juster, new US ambassador to India

U.S. senators stressed trade and other business issues when questioning President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to India at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, while expressing strong support for posting him to New Delhi.

Trump nominated Kenneth Juster as ambassador to India on Sept. 1. The 64-year-old, an economic adviser in his administration, also served as under secretary of Commerce under former Republican President George W. Bush.

Known as an expert on India, Juster was praised by both Trump’s fellow Republicans, who control Congress, and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, although they raised some of the issues complicating relations.

Trump, who campaigned on an “America First” platform, has forcefully expressed his displeasure with the growing U.S. trade deficit with India. He has also called for reform of the H1B visa system that has benefited Indian tech firms.

Indian officials reject suggestions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” platform is protectionist and complain in turn about U.S. regulations on products such as generic drugs and fruit.
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