India will export mangoes, import motorbikes from US

In an admittedly odd exchange of sorts, India would be exporting its exotic mangoes to the US this season in return for allowing motorcycles from the Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc's (HOG) of the US to India.

At a meeting on Indo-US Trade Policy Forum here, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, said, "The good news is that our mangoes are going to America and Harley Davidson is coming here."

For Indian fruit growers, the good news has come after 18 years since the US banned mango imports from here on concerns about Indian farmers were using too many pesticides. Instead, the farmers now irradiate the fruit to kill any pests, rendering the mangoes fit for consumption and in keeping up with sanitary standards of US agriculture administration.

Meeting norms

On the motorbike, the Minister's remarks were followed up by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) who issued a notification promptly, permitting import of motorcycles of engine capacity 800 cc or above. The DGFT said the imported motorcycles must meet Euro III emission norms.