Washington, Sep 2 (IANS): A Republican presidential hopeful has suggested that the US negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with India to strengthen its relationship with a friend critical to America's success in the 21st century.

Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah, who resigned as US ambassador to China last April hoping to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012, Thursday proposed talks with India as part of his jobs plan and fix the US economy.

As 95 percent of the world's customers live outside US borders, and with the US party to only 17 of more than 300 trade agreements worldwide, he said "opening more markets for American businesses should be a commonsense tool to spark immediate growth."

Huntsman said he would make three trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama a top priority.

"Washington must also immediately start discussions with India to end in a bilateral free trade agreement strengthening our relationship with a friend who will prove to be critical to America's success in the 21st century," he said.

Suggesting that Obama's economic record has been marked by failure, he said: "As the Obama Administration has dithered, other nations are making the choices necessary to compete in the 21st Century."

But much like Obama citing competition from emerging economies like India, China and Brazil, Huntsman said: "In Brasilia and Beijing, New Delhi and Seoul, our competitors are making the hard choices that will help assure their children a better life,".

"If we fail to do the same, we are robbing our children of an inheritance every previous American generation has had."
Huntsman said he was running for President "because I'm prepared to lead the American people to that better and brighter future."