India on Friday attacked the United States over agricultural subsidies and trade liberalisation saying it was "not serious" about the matter and had failed to understand New Delhi's political concerns.

"They are not serious. They know the matter," Divestment Minister Arun Shourie told reporters when asked to comment on US Ambassador David Mulford's statement last week terming India as one of the "most closed" economies in the world.

He was critical of the US demand for lowering agricultural barriers saying, "Let him talk of their subsidies."

The minister pointed out that the US was giving some $3 billion as subsidy to cotton farmers but did nothing to reduce the doles.

"They say they cannot do anything because of political compulsions but what happens to our political compulsions," he remarked.

Shourie said the US has been apprised of India's concerns several times during the past year at Cancun and Tokyo round of trade negotiations.

Mulford, while favouring greater market access for US agricultural goods in India, ruled out unilateral elimination of its own export subsidies and reduction of domestic support.