London, Oct 02: The US may lift restrictions imposed on exports of high-technology items to India, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has indicated. "We have made considerable progress in talks with the US administration to lift restrictions on high-technology exports to India," the External Affairs Minister, who was returning from a trip to New York, told in an interview to a business newspaper.
In spite of a warming of ties with the US over the last four years, India continues to resent strict US export controls on "dual use" technology to India - products that could be converted for military use.
"'Dual use' can get so ridiculous, meaning things such as nuts and bolts," Sinha said. "If these restrictions are maintained, it is preventing the US taking advantage of our high-technology market," he said.
The restrictions have hindered the growth of India's civilian nuclear and space programmes and its booming domestic information technology sector, the daily noted.
Bureau Report