[{"nid":"1974","title":"Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiationss","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Ch1 class=\u0022titleinner\u0022\u003EAssociation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIndia-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA), which was signed in 1998, has become operational in 2000.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe agreement was signed in 1998 and became operational in 2000.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESri Lanka is India\u2019s largest trading partner country in the SAARC region. The bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka has grown four times in the last nine years increasing from US $ 658 million in 2000 to US $ 2719 million in 2009.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe main Indian exports to Sri Lanka are Petroleum (Crude \u0026amp; Products), Transport Equipments, Cotton, Yarn Fabrics, Sugar, Drugs Pharmaceuticals \u0026amp; Fine Chemicals. The main Sri Lankan exports to India are, spices, electrical Machinery except electronic, Transport Equipments, Pulp \u0026amp; Waste, Natural Rubber and Paper Board.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EJoint Study Group (JSG) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E. A JSG was set up in April, 2003 with a view to widen the ambit of ISLFTA and include Services and Investment. Report of JSG was submitted in October, 2003. Based on the recommendation of the JSG, CEPA negotiations were started in February, 2005 and concluded in July 2008 after 13 rounds of negotiations. But due to reservations expressed by Government of Sri Lanka, both sides have still not signed the Agreement.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations on Investment and Services have been resumed in December, 2010.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- \/.ft-africa-details --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- \/.ft-africa-box --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/association-of-south-east-asian-nations-asean-and-india-free-trade-agreement-fta-negotiationss"},{"nid":"1975","title":"India-Thailand Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Thailand Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E29th round of negations for India-Thailand CECA have been held during 15-17 June, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-thailand-comprehensive-economic-cooperation-agreement-ceca-negotiations"},{"nid":"1976","title":"Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EBay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations (as of July, 2014)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe initiative to establish Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation (BIST-EC) was taken by Thailand in 1994 to explore subregional economic cooperation among countries around the Bay of Bengal.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMyanmar was admitted in December 1997, and the initiative was renamed as BIMST-EC.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIMST-EC includes 5 SAARC members (India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and 2 ASEAN members (Thailand and Myanmar).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIMST-EC serves as a \u2018bridging link\u2019 between ASEAN and SAARC and is a key component of India\u2019s \u201cLook East\u201d policy.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among BIMSTEC member states is under negotiation.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd BIMSTEC Summit was hosted by India in New Delhi on 13 November 2008, following the 11th Ministerial and 13th Senior Official\u2019s Meetings held on 11-12 November 2008.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Summit was attended by top leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELeaders expressed satisfaction with progress on FTA negotiations in trade in goods and urged early conclusion.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThey welcomed the establishment of:\u003Col class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIMSTEC Centre for Energy (India)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (India)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIMSTEC Cultural Observatory (Bhutan)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe leaders expressed concern over terrorism and welcomed the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime, and Illicit Drug Trafficking.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe BIMSTEC Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) has held 19 sessions focusing on:\u003Col class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETariff concessions on trade in goods\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECustoms cooperation\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EServices\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInvestments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 3rd BIMSTEC Summit was held from 1\u20134 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn the Summit Declaration, leaders directed the TNC to conclude the Agreement on Trade in Goods by the end of 2014 and continue efforts on Services and Investments.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/bay-of-perabengal-initiative-for-multi-sectoral-technical-and-economic-cootion-bimstec-free-trade-agreement\u2026"},{"nid":"1977","title":"India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation between Republic of India and Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25th August, 2004. The Framework Agreement provided that both the parties shall consider ways and means for extending and liberalizing the trade relations and also for initiating discussions on the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement between them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccordingly, negotiations commenced with GCC. Two rounds of negotiations have been held so far in 2006 and 2008. Third round has not taken place as GCC has deferred its negotiations with all countries and economic groups and is currently reviewing its negotiations with all countries and economic groups. Efforts are being made at various bilateral\/multilateral forums for early resumption of the negotiations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-gulf-cooperation-council-gcc-free-trade-agreement-fta-negotations"},{"nid":"1978","title":"India-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Singapore was signed on 29th June, 2005 by Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh and H.E. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe CECA became operational from 1st August, 2005.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDetails of the India-Singapore CECA are available under the heading \u2018Agreements already concluded\u2019 on the respective web page.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe CECA is reviewed periodically to update and improve its provisions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 1st Review of CECA was concluded on 1st October, 2007.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd Review was launched by India\u2019s Commerce \u0026amp; Industry Minister on 11th May, 2010.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 1st Secretary-level meeting of the 2nd Review took place in Singapore on 3rd August, 2010.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWorking Group meetings on Goods, Services, and Investment have been held from time to time.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EChief Negotiators from both countries met in Delhi on 1st\u20132nd November, 2012 after 8 rounds of inter-sessional meetings.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDiscussions are ongoing to resolve certain outstanding issues in the CECA framework.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-sacu-preferential-trade-agreement-pta-negotiations"},{"nid":"1979","title":"Expansion of India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EExpansion of India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Framework Agreement to promote economic cooperation between India and Chile was signed on January 20, 2005, envisaging a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) as a first step.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe India-Chile PTA was signed on 8th March, 2006 and became operational in September 2007.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDetails of the India-Chile PTA are available on the web page under the heading \u2018Agreements already concluded\u2019.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDuring the 1st meeting of the Joint Administrative Committee (JAC) held in New Delhi in February 2009, both sides agreed to initiate the deepening and widening of the PTA\u2019s agreed lists.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 1st meeting on the expansion of the India-Chile PTA took place in Santiago on 28\u201329 January 2010, where both sides exchanged their wish lists.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd meeting on expansion was held in August 2010, where further modalities, including the exchange of initial offer lists, were discussed.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 3rd meeting was held on 30 June \u2013 1 July 2011 in Chile. Both sides agreed on broad principles for the PTA expansion and to exchange new wish lists based on priority.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt was also agreed to hold the next meeting by November 2011.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/expansion-of-india-chile-preferential-trade-agreement-pta"},{"nid":"1980","title":"India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreenent (PTA) Negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreenent (PTA) Negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMERCOSUR is a trading bloc in South America comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt was formed in 1991 to enable the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, and became a customs union in January 1995.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMERCOSUR models itself on the European Union and is the third-largest integrated market after the EU and NAFTA.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Framework Agreement between India and MERCOSUR was signed on 17th June 2003 in Asuncion, Paraguay to facilitate reciprocal tariff preferences initially and a future Free Trade Area.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA PTA between India and MERCOSUR was signed on January 25, 2004, in New Delhi, with five annexes added on March 19, 2005.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe first two Annexes list products eligible for fixed tariff preferences; the remaining three cover Rules of Origin, Preferential Safeguard Measures, and Dispute Settlement Procedures.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe PTA grants tariff concessions ranging from 10% to 100% on 450 tariff lines from India and 452 from MERCOSUR.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe India-MERCOSUR PTA became operational on 1st June 2009.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDetails of the agreement are available under the \u2018Agreements already concluded\u2019 section of the web page.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAs per the IBSA Declaration of 2006, India, Brazil, and South Africa agreed to expand the India-MERCOSUR PTA by increasing product coverage and tariff concessions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 1st meeting of the Joint Administrative Committee (JAC) was held in November 2009 in Uruguay to discuss implementation and expansion of the PTA.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd JAC meeting in June 2010 saw both sides exchanging wish lists of additional items and discussing further modalities, including the exchange of initial offers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/mercosur-preferential-trade-agreement-pta-negotiations"},{"nid":"1981","title":"India-EU Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-EU Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOn 28th June 2007, India and the EU began negotiations on a broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) in Brussels, Belgium.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThese negotiations are pursuant to the commitment made by political leaders at the 7th India-EU Summit held in Helsinki on 13th October 2006 to move towards negotiations for a broad-based trade and investment agreement on the basis of the report of India-EU High Level Technical Group.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIndia and the EU expect to promote bilateral trade by removing barriers to trade in goods and services and investment across all sectors of the economy. Both parties believe that a comprehensive and ambitious agreement that is consistent with WTO rules and principles would open new markets and would expand opportunities for Indian and EU businesses.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe negotiations cover Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade Remedies, Rules of Origin, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Competition, Trade Defence, Government Procurement, Dispute Settlement, Intellectual Property Rights \u0026amp; Geographical Indications, Sustainable Development. So far, 15 rounds of negotiations have been held alternately at Brussels and New Delhi. The last meeting was held in the week of 13th May, 2013 in New Delhi.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-eu-broad-based-trade-and-investment-agreement-btia-negotiations"},{"nid":"1982","title":"Brief on India-EFTA Broad based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EBrief on India-EFTA Broad based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation for the promotion and intensification of free trade. EFTA was founded as an alternative for states that did not wish to join the European Community (EC). EFTA was founded by the Stockholm Convention on May 3, 1960 with Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland as its founding members. The present membership of EFTA is limited to four countries \u2013 Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. These countries are not part of the European Union (EU).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the visit of our President to Iceland in May 2005, Iceland had proposed to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Subsequently, during his meeting with the Commerce \u0026amp; Industry Minister (CIM) in New Delhi in January 2006, the Swiss Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, proposed a possible Preferential Trading Arrangement (PTA) between India and EFTA. This request was repeated in October, 2006.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C!-- End of cagr-count-sec --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of ft-africa-details --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of col --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of inner row --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of ft-africa-box --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of col --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of row --\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C!-- End of container --\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EJoint Study Group:\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Joint Study Group (JSG) was formally launched on 1st December 2006. The JSG was mandated to take a comprehensive view of bilateral economic linkages between India and EFTA and to examine the feasibility of a broad based trade and investment Agreement. The report of the JSG was finalized in October, 2007.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe JSG report comprised of 9 Chapters, namely, Introduction, Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, SPS\/TBT and TF, IPRs and Competition, Government Procurement and Dispute Settlement, Technical Cooperation, Conclusions and Recommendations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe JSG concluded that both sides would significantly benefit from a bilateral broad based trade and investment Agreement and recommended commencement of negotiations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003ENegotiations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe following are the tracks on which negotiations are currently on: Trade in Goods \u0026amp; Services, Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) measures, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Customs and Tariff Facilitation (TF), Investment, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Competition, Government Procurement (GP), Dispute Settlement (DS), Trade Defence (TD), Rules of Origin (RoO), Sustainable Development (SD) and Legal \u0026amp; Horizontal. Thirteen rounds of India-EFTA BTIA negotiations have been held so far. 13th and final round was held from 25-29 November 2013 in New Delhi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/brief-on-india-efta-broad-based-trade-and-investment-agreement-btia-negotiations"},{"nid":"1983","title":"Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) (as of July, 2014)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EGlobal System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) (as of July, 2014)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Agreement establishing the Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) among Developing countries was signed on 13th April, 1988 at Belgrade following conclusion of the First Round of Negotiations. The GSTP came into being after a long process of negotiations during the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77, notably at Mexico City in 1976, Arusha in 1979 and Caracas in 1981. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 in New York set up the GSTP Negotiating Committee in 1982. The New Delhi Ministerial meetings, held in July 1985, gave further impetus to the GSTP negotiation process. The Brasilia Ministerial Meeting held in May 1986 launched the First Round of GSTP Negotiations. At the conclusion of the First Round in April 1988 in Belgrade, the GSTP Agreement was signed on 13 April 1988. The Agreement entered into force on 19th April 1989. Forty-four countries have ratified the Agreement and have become participants. The GSTP establishes a framework for the exchange of trade concessions among the members of the Group of 77. It lays down rules, principles and procedures for conduct of negotiations and for implementation of the results of the negotiations. The coverage of the GSTP extends to arrangements in the area of tariffs, para-tariff, non-tariff measures, direct trade measures including medium and long-term contracts and sectoral agreements. One of the basic principles of the Agreement is that it is to be negotiated step by step improved upon and extended in successive stages.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe current round of GSTP negotiations, also known as \u201cS\u00e3o Paulo Round\u201d was launched in 2004 with 22 participating countries, on the occasion of the UNCTAD XI Quadrennial Conference in Sao Paulo in Brazil. At the end of the negotiations, Ministerial Modalities were adopted on 2 December, 2009 wherein Ministers agreed to modalities based on a tariff reduction of at least 20% on at least 70% of all dutiable tariff-lines. Members who were in the process of their WTO accession namely, Algeria and Iran were to be given specific flexibilities. The modalities on market access adopted by the Ministers are as under:\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAcross-the-board, line-by-line, linear cut of at least 20% on dutiable tariff lines;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProduct coverage to be at least 70% of dutiable tariff lines;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProduct coverage shall be 60% for participants having more than 50% of their national tariff lines at zero duty level;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETariff cuts shall be made on the MFN tariffs applicable on the date of importation. Alternatively, participants may choose to apply the cuts on the MFN tariffs applicable on the date of conclusion of the Third Round;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Negotiating Committee shall also consider proposal for revision of the GSTP rules of origin.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBased on these modalities, intensive negotiations were held in 2010 for finalisation of the schedules of Members. During this period, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mercosur and Morocco submitted their schedules and bilateral negotiations were held to finalise the schedule. It is significant to note that India unilaterally offered a tariff reduction of 25% on 77% of its tariff lines for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Ministerial Meeting of the GSTP Negotiating Committee was held on 15 December,2010 in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil for signing of the \u201cFinal Act Embodying the Results of the Sao Paulo Round\u201d and the \u201cSao Paulo Round Protocol on the Agreement on GSTP\u201d. The Ministers or Head of the Delegations of Members who have submitted their final schedules namely Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mercosur and Morocco signed the two documents. India was represented by H.E. Mr. B.S. Prakash, Ambassador of India to Brazil.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAs of July, 2014; 8 out of 44 member countries, including India, have signed the protocol. Of these 8 countries, three countries, viz. India, Malaysia and Cuba have ratified it. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved implementation of India\u2019s Schedule of Concessions under the Third Round of negotiations.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe schedules of concessions under the Third Round of negotiations will be implemented when a minimum of four participants ratify the schedules and inform the GSTP Secretariat. The tariff concessions will be implemented amongst such four participants and other participants will avail of the concessions after they ratify their schedules.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/brief-on-india-efta-broad-based-trade-and-investment-agreement-btia-negotiations"},{"nid":"1984","title":"Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EAsia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cardContentTwo\u0022\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (earlier known as Bangkok Agreement) is an initiative under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for trade expansion through exchange of tariff concessions among developing country members of the Asia Pacific Region. China acceded to the Agreement in 2000 and the current membership of APTA consists of Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Ministerial Council is the highest decision making body of APTA. The Standing Committee is the negotiating \/ implementing body which functions under the guidance and direction of the Ministerial Council. UN ESCAP functions as the Secretariat for the Agreement.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETill date, three Rounds of Trade Negotiations have taken place. Upto the Third Round, India has offered tariff preferences on 570 tariff lines at an average margin of preference (MoP) of 23.9% and an additional 48 tariff lines to LDC members at an average MoP of 39.7% at the 6-digit HS level.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Second Session of the Ministerial Council, which was held in Goa in 2007, decided to launch the Fourth Round of Negotiations with the aim of both, widening and deepening the tariff concessions offered by Participating States on trade in goods and also on exploring the options to widen the scope of negotiations to other areas, such as non-tariff measures, services and investment.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn accordance with the mandate of the Ministerial Council, the Standing Committee initiated negotiations on the following areas:\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations on tariff concessions on goods;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations on a Framework Agreement on Trade Facilitation;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations on a Framework Agreement on Trade in Services;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations on a Framework Agreement on Investments; and\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExploring possibilities on expanding the membership of APTA\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiations have concluded on the framework agreements on trade facilitation, investments and services. All the three agreements have since been signed and ratified by the Participating States.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Third Session of the Ministerial Council was held in Seoul on 15 December 2009. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, the then Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnder the Fourth Round of negotiations, Participating States are still negotiating the average margin of preference (MoP) and coverage of tariff lines.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 44th Session of the APTA Standing Committee was held on 24-25 July, 2014 at Bangkok, Thailand\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/asia-pacific-trade-agreement-apta-as-of-july-2014"},{"nid":"1985","title":"India \u2013 New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia \u2013 New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on the recommendation of the Joint Study Group (JSG) and subsequent approval of Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) headed by the then Prime Minister of India on 21.01.2010, India is negotiating with New Zealand Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) covering trade in goods, services, investment and related issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENine rounds of negotiations have been held so far. The 9th round of negotiation was held during July, 2013 at Wellington (New Zealand), followed by an intersessional discussion on 9-10th December, 2013 in New Delhi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement-comprehensive-economic-cooperation-agreement"},{"nid":"1986","title":"India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn September 2008, the India-Canada CEO Round Table recommended that India and Canada would benefit enormously from CEPA by elimination of tariffs on a substantial majority of the bilateral trade. CEPA would cover trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and other areas of economic cooperation. A Joint Study was conducted and report came in September 2010 strongly recommending the benefits of CEPA for both the countries. Accordingly, the announcement of launch of India-Canada CEPA negotiations was made by PMs of both the countries in Seoul in November 2010 and the negotiations were formally launched by CITM and Canadian Trade Minister Van Loan on 16 November 2010 in New Delhi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far, ten rounds of negotiations have already taken place. The 10th Round was held in New Delhi in August, 2017.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA stocktaking CEPA and FIPA virtual bilateral meeting was held on 22nd June, 2020 between Chief Negotiators of both sides. Subsequently, on 27th Oct. 2020 a bilateral meeting was held to explore the option of an early harvest \/ interim agreement. In this regard, scoping paper has been shared with Canadian side, and on 19th November 2020 a DVC was held and both sides are engaged to take it forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-canada-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement-cepa"},{"nid":"1987","title":"India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on the recommendation of the Joint Study Group (JSG) in 2010 and subsequent approval of The Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) headed by the then Prime Minister of India on 29.04.2011, India is negotiating with Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) covering trade in goods, services, investment and related issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFive (5) rounds of negotiations for India-Australia CECA have been held so far. The 1st round was held in July, 2011 and the last i.e. 5th round was held on 20-21 May, 2013 in Canberra, Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-australia-comprehensive-economic-cooperation-agreement-ceca"},{"nid":"1988","title":"In September 2008, the India-Canada CEO Round Table recommended that India and Canada would benefit enormously from CEPA by elimination of tariffs on a substantial majority of the bilateral trade. CEPA would cover trade in goods, trade in services, rules ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn September 2008, the India-Canada CEO Round Table recommended that India and Canada would benefit enormously from CEPA by elimination of tariffs on a substantial majority of the bilateral trade. CEPA would cover trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and other areas of economic cooperation. A Joint Study was conducted and report came in September 2010 strongly recommending the benefits of CEPA for both the countries. Accordingly, the announcement of launch of India-Canada CEPA negotiations was made by PMs of both the countries in Seoul in November 2010 and the negotiations were formally launched by CITM and Canadian Trade Minister Van Loan on 16 November 2010 in New Delhi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far, ten rounds of negotiations have already taken place. The 10th Round was held in New Delhi in August, 2017.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA stocktaking CEPA and FIPA virtual bilateral meeting was held on 22nd June, 2020 between Chief Negotiators of both sides. Subsequently, on 27th Oct. 2020 a bilateral meeting was held to explore the option of an early harvest \/ interim agreement. In this regard, scoping paper has been shared with Canadian side, and on 19th November 2020 a DVC was held and both sides are engaged to take it forward.\u003C\/p\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-canada-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement-cepa"},{"nid":"1990","title":"India-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommencement of negotiations on India-Indonesia CECA was announced on 25th January, 2011 during the visit of Indonesian President to New Delhi. During the CITM\u2019s visit to Indonesia on 3-4 October 2011, both sides held India-Indonesia CECA pre-negotiation consultations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-indonesia-comprehensive-economic-cooperation-agreement-ceca"},{"nid":"1991","title":"Joint Study on the India- COMESA (Common Market for East and Southern Africa) Joint Study Group Report to examine the feasibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) bet","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EJoint Study on the India- COMESA (Common Market for East and Southern Africa) Joint Study Group Report to examine the feasibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) bet\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommon Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) is Africa\u2019s largest economic community comprising of 19 member states namely Burundi, Comoros, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Joint Study Group (JSG) has been set up to examine the feasibility of a FTA between India and COMESA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 1st meeting of the India-COMESA JSG was held in Lusaka on 30-31st July, 2012.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was decided during the 1st meeting of the JSG that the India-COMESA JSG will produce a joint report, containing its recommendations for consideration by the Government of India and the COMESA Secretariat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/joint-study-on-the-india-comesa-common-market-for-east-and-southern-africa-joint-study-group-report-to-exam\u2026"},{"nid":"1992","title":"India \u2013 Israel Free Trade Agreement FTA Negotiations","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia - Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndia and Israel are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst round of negotiation was held in New Delhi on 26th May, 2010. Eight rounds have been held since. The eighth round of negotiations was held in Israel from 24th to 26th November, 2013.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/india-israel-free-trade-agreement-fta-negotiations"},{"nid":"1993","title":"Brief on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EBrief on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\u0022subheading2\u0022\u003EIntroduction\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a comprehensive free trade agreement being negotiated between the 10 ASEAN Member States and ASEAN\u2019s free trade agreement (FTA) partners viz. Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. RCEP reflects the emerging trade and economic architecture globally. It should not be seen in isolation but in the context of other comprehensive FTAs that are emerging i.e. the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the newly launched Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) involving the United States and the European Union. In the context of comprehensive regional trading arrangements across the globe, TPP would cover the western flank with TTIP as the central flank and RCEP as the eastern flank. Therefore RCEP is of strategic importance for India both in the context of its look East policy and the comprehensive nature of the engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\u0022subheading2\u0022\u003EBackground\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore June 2013, the RCEP process was being conducted under the ASEAN and FTA Partners Senior Economic Officials Meetings (SEOM) which has now been replaced with the RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee (RCEP-TNC) which is the apex negotiating body.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cGuiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating RCEP\u201d, adopted by Economic Ministers in August 2012, lays down some principles like broader and deeper engagement with significant improvements over the existing FTAs while recognizing the individual and diverse circumstances of countries, facilitating countries\u2019 engagement in global and regional supply chains taking into account the different levels of development of participating countries, etc. It also identifies the areas for negotiations such as goods, services, investment, economic \u0026amp; technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition and dispute settlement with a flexibility to identify other areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile three working groups i.e. Working Group on Trade in Goods (WGTIG), Working Group on Trade in Services (WGTIS) and Working Group on Investment (WGI) were set up under the AFP SEOM Consultation mechanism, three new working groups on competition, intellectual property and economic \u0026amp; technical cooperation (ECOTECH) were established in the 4th RCEP meeting held from 31 March-4 April, 2014 in Nanning, China. A new working group on \u201cLegal and Institutional Issues\u201d was set up in the 5th RCEP meeting that was held in Singapore from 21-27 June, 2014. Four sub working groups reporting to the working group on trade in goods have been established on rules of origin (ROO), customs procedures \u0026amp; trade facilitation (CPTF), SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary measures) and STRACAP (standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures). Hence institutionally apart from the TNC, there are 7 working groups and 4 sub working groups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 6th RCEP meeting would be held from 1-5 December, 2014 in India.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\u0022subheading2\u0022\u003EIssues Covered\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of the key subjects that have been discussed in the working groups are tariff modalities in goods, listing of services and investment, elements of the RCEP chapters and possible texts thereof, intellectual property, competition, economic and technical cooperation, legal and institutional issues, customs procedures and trade facilitation, rules of origin, etc.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/brief-on-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-rcep"},{"nid":"2582","title":"Second Review of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003ESecond Review of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022list-type-disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Singapore was signed on 29th June, 2005 by the Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh and H.E. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore. The CECA has become operational with effect from 1-8-2005. The details of the India-Singapore CECA are available on this web-page under the heading \u2018Agreements already concluded\u2019.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIndia-Singapore CECA is reviewed from time to time. 1st Review was concluded on 1st October 2007.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd Review of India-Singapore CECA was launched by the Commerce \u0026amp; Industry Minister, India on 11th May, 2010. The 1st Secretary level meeting of the 2nd Review was held in Singapore on 3rd August, 2010. Thereafter, Working Group meetings on Goods and Services \u0026amp; Investment were held time to time. The Chief Negotiators on both sides met at Delhi on 1-2 November, 2012 after 8 rounds of Inter-sessional meetings between the negotiating teams on both sides. Discussions are being held to sort out certain outstanding issues.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/second-review-of-india-singapore-comprehensive-economic-cooperation-agreement-ceca"},{"nid":"2583","title":"Expension of India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)","body":"\u003Csection class=\u0022maincontent\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row ft_africa-sec\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-box\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ft-africa-details\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0022subheading\u0022\u003EIndia \u2013 Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Framework Agreement to promote economic cooperation between India and Chile was signed on January 20, 2005, which envisaged a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries as a first step.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe India-Chile PTA was signed on 8th March, 2006 and has become operational on September, 2007. The details of India-Chile PTA are available on this web-page under the heading \u2018Agreements already concluded\u2019.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExpansion of the PTA \u2013 During the 1st meeting of the Joint Administrative Committee (JAC), which was held in New Delhi in February, 2009 to review the implementation of India-Chile PTA, both sides agreed to initiate the process of deepening and widening of the agreed lists of the existing India- Chile PTA. The 1st Meeting on negotiation on expansion of India-Chile PTA was held in Santiago on 28-29 January, 2010 in which both sides exchanged their wish list to each other.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn the 2nd meeting on expansion of India-Chile PTA, which was held in August, 2010, both sides discussed the further modalities of the expansion of the PTA including exchange of initial offer lists.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 1st meeting on negotiation for expansion of the India-Chile PTA took place in Santiago on 28\u201329 January 2010, where both sides exchanged their wish lists.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 2nd meeting on expansion of the PTA was held in August 2010, focusing on modalities of expansion and exchange of initial offer lists.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe 3rd meeting on expansion of India-Chile PTA was held in 30 June- 1 July, 2011 in Chile. During the meeting, both sides agreed on broad principle for expansion of the PTA. They also agreed to exchange new wish lists in order of priority and to hold the next meeting by November, 2011.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E","field_visit_page_link":"\/ministryofcommerce\/international-trade\/trade-agreements\/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas\/expansion-of-india-chile-preferential-trade-agreement-pta"}]