(a) whether the Government has assessed the benefits accrued as a result of bilateral trade agreements signed by India with various other countries; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether the Government has assessed the benefits accrued as a result of bilateral trade agreements signed by India with various other countries; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a)&(b) : Assessment of the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is an ongoing exercise. The consultation process starts even before entering into negotiations by way of a Joint Study Group (JSG) set up for the purpose of analyzing the prospects of enhanced trade and economic activity under an FTA. During negotiations, stakeholder consultations involving Apex Chambers of Commerce and Industry, sector-specific industry associations, line Ministries and Departments and research bodies are regularly held. The overall assessment, based on the available preferential import data from some key FTA partner countries, reveal that the utilization of FTAs has been limited and, therefore, it cannot be conclusively established that the domestic industry has been adversely affected due to FTAs.
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