The Hindu : National : ‘No immediate plans to go to WTO court on U.S. visa fee hike issue'

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Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010
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National

‘No immediate plans to go to WTO court on U.S. visa fee hike issue'

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India on Monday said it was trying to sort out the issue of the H-1B and L-1A visa fee hike and the outsourcing ban issues through bilateral means with the United States, and had no immediate plans to go to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) court.

“We have already lodged complaints with the authorities concerned. There are positive developments, and I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved bilaterally,” D.K. Mittal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce told journalists here.

He said the WTO court should be the last option for such issues. “You cannot talk everything at the WTO. Our preference is to resolve the issue bilaterally,” Mr. Mittal added. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is scheduled to visit Washington next week to hold bilateral trade talks with his U.S. counterparts. The issue of “unjustified and discriminatory” visa fee hike and ban on outsourcing by Ohio will also figure during the talks.

The U.S. government recently increased visa fee by $2,000 for certain H-1B visas and $2,250 for L-1A and L-1B visas, which India has termed as discriminatory and against the spirit of fair trade rules of the WTO. India has also criticised the U.S. State of Ohio's decision to forbid outsourcing of IT services by government departments.

“Such measures are no doubt protectionist but we won't get much by going to WTO. The bilateral negotiation was the best option given the current circumstances,” Mr. Mittal added.

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