ISDS Case Map
India
It would have almost happened. President Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were slated to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries sometime during the SAARC summit at the beginning of next month. Fortunately wiser counsel prevailed, if one might employ a rather weathered phrase.
European Union on Monday hinted at continuation of bilateral negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India even if the ongoing WTO negotiations at Geneva fails.
An India-Sri Lanka trade and investment agreement billed as a landmark is being delayed, ostensibly because the island nation's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, an avowed Sinhala nationalist, doesn't want to be seen as authoring such a close partnership with New Delhi, diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
India and Singapore are set to sign an agreement on services shortly under a comprehensive economic treaty between the two, enabling architects, nurses, dentists and chartered accountants to practice in each other's country. This will be the first services agreement that India signs with any country.
The East Asia Summit, a “leaders-driven forum” with India, as also China and Japan in its fold, “is studying the feasibility of a free trade area among its 16 countries.”
A group of eminent Sri Lankan businesses went public this week objecting to the signing of the Indo-Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The local businesses are questioning the need for a CEPA agreement and are objecting to the lack of transparency in the process.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to endorse a continued push for free trade agreements with Australia & New Zealand, the EU and India during talks this weekend, a draft document said Friday.
Growth of exports to Thailand and Singapore has slowed after India signed bilateral duty-free agreements with these countries. But a similar pact with Sri Lanka has improved the growth in India's exports to the island nation.
The Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand's largest agribusiness conglomerate, is preparing to expand in India by establishing two more animal feed plants.
Thailand hopes to ratify a full free-trade agreement with India within this year if the political situations in the two countries don't change, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Wiroon Techapaiboon.
