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India-US defense and trade ties a concert of democracies
This commentary was first published in India Global Business Magazine
India and the United States have steadily expanded the ambit of their strategic engagement over the past two decades, driven by a growing convergence in their economic and security outlooks and priorities. And a crucial element that underlines and propels closer ties is classified as “dual-use” items. This refers to products, components, technology, equipment and software used in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems that also have legitimate industrial use. Dual-use items are strictly regulated to verify the bona fides of the end-user, and the civilian end-use of these items. This interlocking web of regulations is collectively termed as export controls or STCs (strategic trade controls).