(a) whether India participated in the first round of negotiations for the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP); and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the role played by India in such an agreement?
(a) whether India participated in the first round of negotiations for the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP); and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the role played by India in such an agreement?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)
(a) Yes.
(b) India participated in the first meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Trade Negotiating Committee (RCEP-TNC) which was held on 9-13 May 2013 in
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. RCEP is a comprehensive free trade agreement which
is being negotiated between ten ASEAN member states and ASEAN’s six FTA partners. India is
amongst ASEAN’s six FTA partners – the other countries are Australia, China, Japan, New
Zealand and Republic of Korea. During the first RCEP-TNC meeting it was decided to establish
three working groups viz. (i) Working Group on Trade in Goods, (ii) Working Group on Trade
in Services and (iii) Working Group on Investment.