New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- Following the agreement on an interim trade deal between India and the United States, India must now focus on trade openness and structural reforms to strengthen its manufacturing base and global competitiveness, according to a report by Systematix Group.

The report noted that India should prioritise correcting inverted duty structures, streamlining logistics and customs processes to reduce input costs, and fostering assembly-based manufacturing to achieve scale and generate employment.

It further emphasised the need to reduce protectionism, expand free trade agreements (FTAs), boost research and development, and ease constraints related to land, labour, and skills.

It stated, "As the India and US have now agreed o...