US firms ask Government to urge India to open markets

US firms ask Government to urge India to open marketsIndustry players in the US have asked the United Sates Government to put pressure on the Indian government to open up its markets for more US exports.

US firms said that the Indian government should be asked to alter its high-tech, agricultural and pharmaceutical policies that allegedly block imports from the US into the country. They claim that some of the US policies are also affecting their patent rights. They described some of the policies as protectionist that affects the US job creation.

Roy Waldron, chief intellectual property counsel for Pfizer told the House of Representative Ways and Means trade subcommittee in a testimony that the restrictions in India impact its business. He said that the Indian government revoked Pfizer's patent for a cancer medicine, Sutent, "to allow Indian generic companies to manufacture and sell generic copies."

He blamed Indian authorities for using compulsory licenses unfairly to benefit its domestic firms. He urged US government officials to follow those matters in talks with the Indian officials and ensure the protection of the U. S. intellectual property.

Representative Devin Nunes of California, the Republican chairman of the Ways and Means trade subcommittee said that he wants the US firms to able to compete on a fair ground in the Indian market because India's 1.2 billion people make a large market for US firms.