ANS I New Delhi: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) while expressing deep anguish, has strongly rejected the report of U S Trade Representative citing three Indian physical markets, Heera Panna in Mumbai, Palika Bazar and Tank Road in Delhi and Kidderpore in Kolkata. “The USTR has overreached its jurisdiction and has no right to malign any market of any Country other than US.”
CAIT National President B C Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal while expressing deep shock over the report of USTR said that alleging charge of engaging in or facilitating substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy in these markets, by USTR is a calculated strategy of the US Agency to discourage international shoppers to visit India or various markets in India. The report without any substantial evidence has no legs to stand and the CAIT has taken a serious note of it. The CAIT will register its displeasure with US Embassy in New Delhi and has also asked its legal team to examine the matter from legal angle and will not shy in moving the Court, if advised by legal team- said Bhartia and Khandelwal.
Both trade leaders strongly said that the world perfectly know how American companies are indulging into mal-practices in their business activities around the World. Several US companies have been penalised in various Countries and even within US these companies are often penalised by various states of US. Therefore it will be better for USTR to put its own house in order rather than giving sermons. The report is a bundle of lies having no creditable evidence and can’t be taken as a certificate of USTR. The Indian markets do not require any certificate from any one including US TR.
Bhartia and Khandelwal said that at a time when India is progressing well at the global level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is poised for an exponential growth having a well grown fugures of export trade and the World is looking India as a best destination for trade and in such a backdrop, this report of USTR has no value at all. We summarily reject the report of US Trade Representative- said trade leaders