India says US 'protectionist'

India's commerce minister accused the United States of "unacceptable" trade protectionism yesterday as a US official travelled to India on a mission to repair ties following an ugly diplomatic row.
Indian minister Anand Sharma also said New Delhi was fully compliant with the World Trade Organisation's rules on intellectual property but would "never accept" stricter measures on patent issues.
While describing the US as a "major economic strategic partner", Sharma told a news conference that India believes Washington is displaying "high and unacceptable protectionism" on some issues.
The minister made the charge as Nisha D Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, was set to be the most high-profile US visitor to New Delhi since the row over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York in December.
The Indian-born official admitted before her arrival that the countries had "real challenges" to overcome as they seek to move on from the diplomat dispute.