New U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said Friday he expected growing trade frictions with India to be a major early focus of his tenure while he also works to secure free-trade agreements with Asia-Pacific countries and the European Union (EU). "We have a number of concerns about the investment and innovation environment in India," Froman told Reuters shortly after being sworn into office. "It's something that we're very focused on." The concerns include India's suspension of patents on U.S. drugs and localization policies that discriminate against foreign goods. In recent weeks, members of Congress and business groups have sent several letters urging the Obama administration to be tougher on India, including when Secretary of State John Kerry is in New Delhi next week for the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue. Froman, who previously served as Obama's chief international economic affairs advisor, said he expected to raise the same concerns next month in Washington at the U.S.-India summit of chief executives, and potentially in a future meeting of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum. Froman takes over the top U.S. trade position at one of its busiest times in recent years. The United States hopes to conclude trade negotiations with Japan and 10 other Asia-Pacific countries by the end of the year, and it will hold the first round of talks on a proposed U.S.-EU agreement next month. "It's a very full agenda that all revolves around creating jobs in the United States.," he said.
