US not trying to 'single out' Indian IT cos: Locke

The US government had decided to increase the visa fee to raise an additional USD 600 million to beef up border security.

Other countries like Taiwan and Korea have also been impacted and the US was "not trying to single out India," he said.

The impact had perhaps appeared disproportionate as a large number of visas for the professionals had been applied for by India, Locke told private news channel CNBC TV18 in an interview.

US President Barack Obama, who arrived in India today, will meet the Indian business leaders during his three-day visit.

Asked if other US states would follow Ohio's ban on outsourcing work to foreign companies, Locke said that India had been affected as it was not a signatory to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) under the WTO.

The GPA is a pact that deals with the issues relating to government purchases.

He said the US would encourage India to become a signatory as America can buy services from India or any other signatory country, as per the Agreement.

In February this year, New Delhi had joined the GPA as an observer and once it becomes a full GPA member, will become eligible to participate in government purchase programmes.
The GPA has 14 members now including the US and the EU, while about 20 nations are observers.