New Delhi, May 23 -- Exporters and industry bodies on Friday told a parliamentary committee that US tariffs and trade barriers have severely affected key sectors in India, while the ongoing West Asia crisis has increased freight costs, shipping time and insurance expenses, supply chain delays, and mounting pressure on export margins. Industry representatives also stressed that the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and the United States was crucial for ensuring "long-term trade predictability". The submissions were made before the Parliamentary standing committee on commerce, led by Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen. "The future trajectory of India-US trade relations will depend significantly on the successful conclusion of...