New Delhi, June 5 -- As far back as April, India told the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address all trade concerns within the framework of ongoing negotiations for the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and not through unilateral measures like alleged use of forced labour in merchandise exported to the US, per the USTR's records. Despite India's submissions in April, and again in May, the USTR, on June 2 proposed to levy an additional duty of 12.5% on 54 nations, including India, for producing goods with forced labour. The USTR's findings on Section 301 investigations came at a time when a visiting American team led by assistant USTR Brendan Lynch was engaged with its Indian counterpart for finalising an interim BTA. Documents r...