New Delhi, Feb 16: Defending a recent US Senate bill to stem the outsourcing of jobs overseas, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick Monday said India must open its markets further if it wants Washington to do the same. "If India wants to have the ability to outsource and sell goods to the US, India will also have to open up," Zoellick said at a press briefing. Zoellick's visit to New Delhi is part of his global tour to get countries back on the World Trade Organization's negotiating table for freer trade. Indian industry and government officials view a bill passed by the US Senate in January that prohibits government contractors from subcontracting work to overseas companies as being protectionist. The bill has raised fears that it could lead to more of such protectionist measures. Zoellick pointed out that India's average tariffs are three times higher than the US, which runs a USD 9 billion trade deficit with New Delhi. "It reflects the sensitivity of the issue and reflects the fact that we have to make trade a two-way street," he said. "If we are to have expansion of global trade in agriculture, services or industry, we must have it for all." WTO talks on freer trade have been in disarray since negotiations broke down in September. Developing nations, led by India and Brazil, have been pressing rich countries to stop giving billions of dollars in subsidies to their farmers, while the US and EU want developing countries to cut tariffs, especially in the farm sector. Outsourcing of jobs could potentially become another hurdle in advancing trade talks. Earlier Monday, Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley said concerns over the US bill could make it harder for the government in New Delhi to make concessions during any WTO talks. "For the WTO talks as a whole, an adverse environment has been created in this country since an erstwhile open market is now being closed," Jaitley told reporters after meeting Zoellick. Bureau Report