Business Expansion Opportunities in South and Central Asia 

On April 19, 2019, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Caterpillar and PhRMA to host a luncheon welcoming Christopher Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative on South and Central Asia.  

Mr. Wilson spoke mostly on the U.S. - India trade relationship. He stressed the importance of India as not only as a political ally, but also as an economic partner that is a major destination for U.S investment and trade. India is quickly emerging as one of the top business centers of the future.  

Additionally, however, the future of U.S. – India trade relations is uncertain. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump declared that he intended to terminate India’s Generalized System of Preference (GSP). The program is the largest U.S trade preference program and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for beneficiary countries. Because India is amid a general election, preoccupation with the upcoming election distracts officials from making substantial progress on trade negotiations between India and the United States. The U.S. Trade Representative believes that South and Central Asia present tremendous business expansion opportunities and is taking steps to stabilize and enhance U.S. economic engagement with Asia. 

 

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