US to push India for greater ecommerce market access

The Trump administration intends to press India to provide online retailers like Amazon and Walmart full access to its $125 billion ecommerce market, according to a Financial Times report published Tuesday. The report, citing industry executives, lobbyists, and US government officials, states that the United States plans to push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for a level playing field on ecommerce during upcoming comprehensive trade negotiations. These discussions are expected to be part of wide-ranging talks on a US-India trade agreement that will also cover various sectors including food and automobiles.

The move comes as major American online retailers seek greater access to India’s rapidly growing digital marketplace, which has been subject to regulations that some foreign companies view as restrictive.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.