India urges US 'leadership' on WTO

(WASHINGTON) - India on Thursday urged the United States to take the lead in resuming global free trade talks after the EU trade chief lashed out at "protectionism" by President Barack Obama's administration.

Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said he had a "very free and frank exchange of views" with top US trade officials on a visit to Washington.

"There are many other countries, both developing as well as developed countries, which have urged the United States, being the largest economy, to take leadership," Sharma told reporters.

Sharma voiced hope that the Obama administration would help "work towards reaching an understanding which loses the gaps" among key trading partners.

Sharma said India had "similar" views to the EU trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, who in an interview blamed the Obama administration for holding up the decade-old Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.

Speaking to the Belgian business daily De Tijd, De Gucht took direct aim at Obama's goal to double US exports over five years, saying: "I don't see how anyone can double exports if there's no movement towards free trade."

Obama, who was elected with support of labor unions, has pledged commitment to trade liberalization but has shown little sense of urgency in finalizing free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

India has been a leader in the WTO talks among developing nations, who have been particularly concerned by rich countries' subsidies to farmers which critics argue distort trade.

The mild-mannered Sharma took office last year after India's Congress Party swept back to power in elections. He replaced Kamal Nath, who was known for his strident advocacy of developing nations during trade talks.