ISDS Case Map
India
India’s difficulty in acceding to the mega regional free trade agreement RCEP is reflective of a deep malaise in not just its trade policy but also domestic economy.
Negotiators representing 16 countries have been tasked with arriving at an agreement on the controversial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by October 19 but trade unions say the deal has grave consequences.
At a media interaction in New Delhi, experts from civil society organisations enumerated damages that could be caused to various sectors of the Indian economy if India signed the deal.
Over the past few years, one of the few bright spots in trade that has been in the spotlight is the RCEP. While the initiative continues to receive a lot of headlines, obstacles remain to it becoming a reality.
Real lives and livelihoods are at stake. That is why people are saying ‘No’ to RCEP!
If India is going ahead with RCEP negotiations, India must insist on rules of origin mandating significant domestic value addition in the country of the final exporter as well as strengthen bilateral mechanisms for ensuring compliance.
National co-convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch Ashwani Mahajan tells ThePrint that from dairy sector to steel, chemical and automobile, no one wants RCEP.
PM Narendra Modi will take up India’s unresolved issues in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement at the leaders’ summit next month if the 16 members are unable to resolve them over the next few days.
RCEP meet: India had proposed certain tweaks in the negotiating text of electronic commerce during the 9th Intersessional Ministerial Meeting.
Trade ministers to meet again on 1 Nov as India’s tough talk on market access continues and negotiators have been asked to resume talks to bridge differences by 19 October.
