Fact Sheet Department of Commerce Washington, DC March 2, 2006 U.S.-India Economic Dialogue: U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation GroupThe U.S.-India High-Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) was formed in November 2002 to provide a standing framework for discussing high-technology issues of mutual interest. The HTCG is co-chaired by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security and the Indian Foreign Secretary and has two primary and interrelated substantive components:
The HTCG has provided an ideal forum to address strategic trade and trade development issues that benefits both countries.
The HTCG helped lay the groundwork for India’s actions under the NSSP to enact a new comprehensive export control law and harmonize its control lists with those of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime. Under Secretary David H. McCormick led an interagency delegation to India in November and December, 2005 to participate in the most recent round of the HTCG. The two governments continued discussions on strategic trade issues, particularly implementation of India’s WMD law, and agreed on specific steps to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and collaboration in four sector-specific areas: defense technology, nanotechnology, information technology, and biotechnology. |