India-US To Hold First Strategic Trade Dialogue In June

India and US will hold the first meeting of Strategic Trade Dialogue on June 4-5 to implement the outcomes of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

The meeting is important as both nations would enhance high-tech commerce. The meeting will also facilitate tech transfer between the two nations.

On January 31, the first iCET meeting of the National Security Advisors took place. It was here that a decision was taken to hold the strategic trade meeting.

Early next month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra will be travelling to the US and will meet with Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez for the strategic dialogue. Last minute preparations would also be made for the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place in the White House on June 22. The PM would hold talks with US President Joe Biden.

PM Modi will also hold a meeting with President Biden on May 19 during the G-7 meet in Japan. The two leaders would also meet on May 24 at the Quad meeting.

The US is expected to open up defence cooperation with PNG to counter the Chinese security footprint in the Solomon Islands. PM Modi on the other hand would be extending $100 million credit line to the island nation as part of India's comprehensive engagement with the Far Pacific.