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U.S. Eases Export Rules for India

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From Reuters

The United States has lifted export restrictions on equipment for India’s commercial space program and nuclear power facilities, a sign of the increasingly close ties between Washington and New Delhi.

U.S. firms have not been allowed to sell sophisticated equipment or technology to India -- seen in Washington as a Cold War ally of the Soviet Union -- as part of a decades-old ban to prevent their use for military purposes.

Washington tightened the curbs after announcing tough trade sanctions on India and Pakistan for their tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998.

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India’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that Washington had eased the export restrictions after New Delhi addressed U.S. concerns about weapons proliferation.

The United States relaxed the 1998 sanctions after the Sept. 11 attacks as ties with both India and Pakistan strengthened.

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