NEW DELHI- Indo-Soviet Trade Evading the Issue

NEW DELHI Indo-Soviet Trade : Evading the Issue BM THE talks in the capital between the Soviet delegation led by deputy minister of foreign trade, I T Grishin, and senior commerce ministry officials, to review the implementation of the Indo-Soviet trade plan for 1983, tended to be an exercise in evasion by both sides. Neither side took any initiative and both remained content wth reiterating their conventional positions within the framework of the rupee payment arrangements. The frame can no longer play a promotional role in the trade exchanges between India and the Soviet Union and is beginning to be a constraint on trade development. Thus the Indian side, once again, pleaded that the Soviet Union should import from India "in accordance with the trade plan'' for 1983. This was no doubt intended to draw attention to the sudden stoppage of imports and cancellation of orders by the Soviet Union for want of adequate rupees earned by the Soviet Union from exports to India. There had been an outcry by Indian exporters following the stoppage. Exporters have developed a direct stake in the exports to the Soviet Union for which there are no alternative markets in the event of the Soviet Union blocking its imports for one reason or another. At the talks, the Soviet side agreed to abide by the trade plan regarding its imports from India, But there was nothing to suggest that this would happen regardless of whether or not imports from the Soviet Union pick up. The Soviet Union clearly does not feel worried that the balance will go on becoming adverse to it and that it has to rely on 'technical credits' from the Government of India to finance the exports to the Soviet Union.