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Washington is coercing India: U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
Why is it in news?
- The Chairman of the U.S House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), Eliot Engel, wrote to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, saying there was a growing view that the Trump administration was coercing India on various fronts rather than negotiating with it.
More in news
- Highlights made by Letter:(1) The letter highlights the timing of the U.S.’s U.S.’s withdrawal of GSP (preferential trade access) benefits to India and the removal of waivers of sanctions on importing Iranian oil.(2) It urges Mr. Pompeo to reaffirm the India-U.S. partnership and bring coherence to it.(3) There is a growing view that the Administration is attempting to coerce India into complying with U.S. demands on a variety of issues, rather than negotiating with them as a strategic partner.
- GSP and Iran oil issue:(1) The threats to strip India of its privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences in the middle of the country’s general election have furthered the notion that the Administration sees the India relationship as a transactional one.(2) The decision to end waivers related to U.S. sanctions on Iran could alienate India when we need to be working with our partners to prevent destabilizing Iranian activities.
- Non- coherent India policy: Mr. Engel and several House Democrats had written to Mr Trump expressing their concern over the Assistant Secretary vacancy and what they saw as the administration’s failure to form a coherent India policy.
Source
The Hindu