india

Updated: May 03, 2019 02:07 IST

India is looking forward to the visit of US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross next week as an opportunity to discuss several contentious issues, including Washington’s withdrawal of benefits under the GSP programme and the ending of exemptions to sanctions on Iranian oil imports.

Ross, who is visiting New Delhi to participate in the Trade Winds Business Forum and Mission, the US commerce department’s largest annual trade mission, is scheduled to meet commerce minister Suresh Prabhu on May 6, people familiar with developments said.

“There is a bilateral [between the US and India],” said a commerce ministry official who did not wish to be named.

The people said the visit will allow the two sides to discuss the US sanctions on Iranian oil imports, which kicked in on Thursday, and trade issues such as Washington’s impending withdrawal of benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a news briefing on Thursday that commercial considerations and “legitimate energy and commercial security interests” will guide India’s decisions on future oil imports.

India will get additional supplies from other oil-producing countries based on a “robust plan” drawn up by the petroleum ministry, he added.

India, Kumar said, will continue to engage with the US on the issue and has “conveyed to them our energy security requirements”.