Allaying India's apprehensions, the United States and European Union on Friday assured New Delhi that textile quota would be phased out as schedule by the end of next year for integration of textiles into multilateral trade regime.

US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and EC Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy gave the assurance to Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley during separate bilateral talks on Friday, official sources said.

Before commencement of the World Trade Organisation mini-ministerial meeting, Jaitley met Zoellick, Lamy and his counterparts from Kenya, Singapore and Brazil separately talking about bilateral cooperation.

He expressed India's stand on market access in agriculture sector as well as other contentious issues.

Jaitley, during his meeting with the USTR, aired India's concern over the possible impact of New Jersey bill requiring all workers on state contract to be US citizens (or aliens with work permit in US) unless a suitable American was not found having the expertise required for the job.

The commerce minister also expressed India's concern about the possible impact of proposed anti-dumping trade measures, which could affect India's seafood exports to USA.

Zoellick assured New Delhi that these concerns would attract serious attention and consideration of his government.

India's seafood exports to USA stood $241 million in 2001-02 with a negligible share in the total seafood imports of USA.

During his meeting with the EC Trade Commissioner, Jaitley voiced India's concern over EU's zero import duty on garments from Pakistan under the Generalised System of Preferences on the ground that it had successfully fought drug trafficking.

Speaking about the huge efforts made by India in drug trafficking, Jaitley suggested that EU should extend similar concessions to India. He was assured by Lamy that the matter would receive adequate consideration from the Commission.