JustRalph
09-18-2010, 05:28 PM
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/18/copy/india-protests-outsourcing-ban.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
India protests outsourcing ban
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 02:58 AM
BY ALAN JOHNSON
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
ov. Ted Strickland's ban on overseas outsourcing of services by state government stirred an angry buzz in foreign countries, particularly in India, which filed an official complaint against Ohio with the office of the U.S. trade representative.
"Such restrictions have to go," The Times of India quoted Rahul Khullar, Indian commerce secretary, as saying. A New Delhi trade expert called Strickland's action "a blatant case of protectionism."
In the view of Indian officials, the governor's Aug. 6 order violates a recent Group of 20 agreement by the U.S., India and other industrial and emerging-market nations to avoid taking action solely to protect domestic jobs.
But Carol J. Guthrie, an assistant U.S. trade representative, doesn't agree.
"We have no reason to believe Ohio's decision will have any significant impact on our robust trading relationship with India," she said in a statement to The Dispatch.
"If countries such as India are concerned about access to government contracts," Guthrie added, "we would encourage them to negotiate membership in the Government Procurement Agreement, which would guarantee U.S. firms reciprocal access to the India procurement market."
Strickland's order banning overseas outsourcing of services paid for with state dollars was in response to controversy about call-center work from an $11 million appliance-rebate program being done in El Salvador.
The Ohio Department of Development contracted with Texas-based Parago Inc. to administer a program funded by federal stimulus dollars to provide rebates for the purchase of new energy-efficient appliances. Parago reportedly used hundreds of workers in El Salvador to process applications and answer calls.
more at the lnk
India protests outsourcing ban
ShareThis
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 02:58 AM
BY ALAN JOHNSON
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
ov. Ted Strickland's ban on overseas outsourcing of services by state government stirred an angry buzz in foreign countries, particularly in India, which filed an official complaint against Ohio with the office of the U.S. trade representative.
"Such restrictions have to go," The Times of India quoted Rahul Khullar, Indian commerce secretary, as saying. A New Delhi trade expert called Strickland's action "a blatant case of protectionism."
In the view of Indian officials, the governor's Aug. 6 order violates a recent Group of 20 agreement by the U.S., India and other industrial and emerging-market nations to avoid taking action solely to protect domestic jobs.
But Carol J. Guthrie, an assistant U.S. trade representative, doesn't agree.
"We have no reason to believe Ohio's decision will have any significant impact on our robust trading relationship with India," she said in a statement to The Dispatch.
"If countries such as India are concerned about access to government contracts," Guthrie added, "we would encourage them to negotiate membership in the Government Procurement Agreement, which would guarantee U.S. firms reciprocal access to the India procurement market."
Strickland's order banning overseas outsourcing of services paid for with state dollars was in response to controversy about call-center work from an $11 million appliance-rebate program being done in El Salvador.
The Ohio Department of Development contracted with Texas-based Parago Inc. to administer a program funded by federal stimulus dollars to provide rebates for the purchase of new energy-efficient appliances. Parago reportedly used hundreds of workers in El Salvador to process applications and answer calls.
more at the lnk