India and US discuss trade of technologies in critical domains like semiconductors, space, AI, quantum

In a significant step towards strengthening the bilateral trade and technology partnership in critical domains, India and the United States held the inaugural meeting of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD) on June 6, 2023. The IUSSTD is a key mechanism to take forward the strategic technology and trade collaborations envisaged under the India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). The high-level meeting aimed to improve cooperation in key and developing technology sectors. According to information released by the Indian Embassy in the US, the meeting focused on ways in which both governments can facilitate the development and trade of technologies in critical domains such as semiconductors, space, telecom, quantum, AI, defence, bio-tech and others. The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The US delegation was co-led by Under Secretary for Industry and Security in the US Department of Commerce Alan Estevez and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the US Department of State Victoria Nuland. Here are the key takeaways from the 1st IUSSTD meeting 1. Both sides reviewed the relevant bilateral export control regulations with the objective of building and diversifying resilient supply chains for these strategic technologies. 2. They reviewed ongoing cooperation in multilateral export control regimes and agreed to share best practices. 3. Both sides agreed to enhance awareness among the industry, academia and other stakeholders about the export control regimes through workshops and other activities. 4. They acknowledged that the dialogue would be instrumental to enabling co-production, co-development and enhanced industrial collaborations in critical technologies. 5. They agreed to set up a regular monitoring group which will review progress in deepening cooperation in the bilateral high-tech trade and technology partnership. 6. The co-chairs agreed to continue the dialogue with the objective of strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.