India is pressing the United States to remove several non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that hinder its exports as part of ongoing bilateral trade agreement (BTA) negotiations. While the US has raised multiple concerns regarding India’s regulatory environment, Indian officials have pointed out challenges such as high certification costs, regulatory delays, and the “Buy American” procurement policy that limits access to government contracts.
For instance, Indian pharmaceutical exporters bear hefty FDA approval costs—ranging from $9,280 to $540,000—alongside expenses for FDA field visits. In contrast, US companies entering India face significantly lower barriers. Former Indian trade officials argue that what is termed as “regulations” often acts as disguised protectionism, including prolonged anti-dumping and safeguard duties that were meant to be temporary.
India’s Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, in a 2022 paper, highlighted other issues such as pesticide-related rejections, labelling concerns, and opaque rejections by US authorities. India aims to spotlight these barriers firmly during the ongoing negotiations to ensure fair treatment for its exporters.