Hussain stated Their stand on matters relating to trade though not very welcome to us show quite a bit of restraint. While US administration had come to the conclusion that some of India’s actions did not conform to their rules and trade interests and named the country under 301 it has not taken any action against it so far.
Their stand on the question of offering us a supercomputer also reflected the helpful altitude they would like to adopt towards India. (The US has agreed in principle to supply the computer but the conditions are yet to be worked out).
The ambassador said the initiatives taken by the Narasimha Rao govt to liberalize trade and revamp the economy had been highly appreciated by the US administration as well as Capitol Hill. He specifically referred to the positive statement made in his regard by Senator Alan Cranston and remarked such an appreciation on the floor of the House is rarely done unless it is the expression of a new warmth in relationship.
He was confident that the new measures would encourage the flow of investment. Even otherwise there was a growing interest in US in India With the end of the cold war it is but natural that Washington should look beyond questions of security and take note of the economic strength of this country
Hussain a former Planning Commission member said some people seem to believe that the present financial difficulties of India have created a feeling of disinterest or suspicion in respect of India. This is superficially correct because Americans take the view that a country’s economy and its management is not the same thing. In their own country they have problems of deficit recession credit squeeze and high indebtedness. Yet their economy is sound. They see India in the same light though the levels of the two economies are different.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
