India is set to raise key concerns at the 14th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting, co-chaired by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. 

The Indian delegation is expected to strongly advocate for expediting USFDA inspections of domestic pharmaceutical firms, lifting the export ban on wild-caught shrimp, and addressing export control regulations for high-tech products and technologies.

India, a major exporter of pharmaceutical products to the United States, will press for an acceleration in USFDA inspections of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing units. 

The official noted the need for expeditious inspections, either through digital or physical means, to resolve the backlog caused by the prolonged suspension of inspections during the pandemic. The Indian pharmaceutical sector, accounting for approximately 30 percent of the country's global exports, seeks a swift return to pre-pandemic inspection levels to ensure uninterrupted trade.

The backdrop of the discussions is framed by India's pharmaceutical exports to the US, which reached USD 6.79 billion (April-February 2023), constituting a substantial 30 percent of the nation's global exports. 

With a 6.7 percent growth rate in exports to the US over the last five years, the pharmaceutical sector plays a pivotal role in India's economic engagement with its largest export market.