US eyeing one mln tonnes wheat sales to India

Singapore, May 18: The US wheat industry is eyeing sales of up to one million tonnes wheat to India this year as some of its proposals on phytosanitary issues had been well received by New Delhi, a US industry official said on today.

''We are confident of moving wheat to India this year,'' Mark Samson, vice president for South Asia of the US Wheat Associates, told Reuters. ''Talks are moving in the positive direction.'' ''We, along with the US Department of Agriculture, had submitted some proposals to the Indian government. Some of them have received praise,'' he added.

Last year, the United States could not sell wheat to India, which imported 5.5 million tonnes of the grain, because of certain quality specifications. An Indian government delegation earlier this week held talks with US officials on wheat safety issues.

Reuters>