Washington, August 4: In a big achievement for India, the United States has given the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) status. India has also become the third Asian country after Japan and South Korea, to get STA-1 status. The US issued a federal notification regarding this, thus, paving the way for high-technology product sales to New Delhi. India will now get US cooperation, particularly in civil space and defence sectors. India is the 37th country to be designated the STA-1 status by the US.

The Trump administration has made an exception for India, as it is yet to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).  The US, generally, has placed only those countries in the STA-1 list who are members of the four export control regimes: Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), Australia Group (AG) and the Nuclear Security Group (NSG). India is not a member of NSG, as China has always opposed India’s entry into the group.

According to the federal notification, India is a Major Defence Partner of the US.  The notification also states that the US and India will continue their commitment to work together to strengthen the global non-proliferation and export control framework.  The two countries have mutually agreed to expand cooperation in civil space, defence, and other high-technology sectors.  The US has also shown commitment to support India’s bid to NSG and to realign India in its export control regulations.

India has been admitted to the MTCR on June 27, 2016, the Wassenaar Arrangement on December 7, 2017, and the Australia Group on January 19, 2018. The US had recognised India s the major defence partner in a joint statement on June 7, 2016. After getting the status, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), formally recognises India’s membership in the WA multilateral export control under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Earlier, India was listed in the STA-2 category along with Albania, Hong Kong, Israel, Malta, Singapore, South Africa and Taiwan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 04, 2018 02:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).