Business World | 31 May 2025
India, Chile conclude first round of talks for wider FTA
India and Chile have completed the first round of negotiations for a proposed comprehensive free trade agreement, the Department of Commerce said on Friday.
The two countries are aiming to expand their current preferential trade arrangement into a broader Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was implemented in 2006 and primarily covers limited tariff concessions on select goods.
The proposed CEPA seeks to deepen bilateral economic ties by covering a wider array of sectors. These include digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and collaboration in critical minerals.
Officials did not disclose details of the discussions or the timeline for future negotiation rounds.
