» Consultation on EFTA-India FTA
The Ministry of Commerce has delegated the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to conduct the consultation process regarding FTAs between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as well as the European Union (EU). The first round of consultation is in process, and one of these meetings took place in Delhi on June 3rd, titled “Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA countries.” Read More...

» EU-India FTA
EU demands in EU-India FTA could adversely affect access to drugs
SUNS | June 29th, 2009
The European Union’s demands on India to take on higher intellectual property (IP) standards, if adopted, could spell disaster for the supply of low-cost generic medicines, undermine India’s development and set a significant precedent for the future of IP rights protection globally, cautioned Dr Carlos M. Correa, an expert on IP and the World Trade Organisation Agreement on IP (TRIPS).

» ASEAN-India FTA
Breakthrough with ASEAN
Business Standard | June 5th, 2009
Exports to the West from both India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have fallen and a FTA would reduce both India and ASEAN dependence on the West. The linkages with East Asia will get stronger still when a similar FTA between India and South Korea, which has been concluded, gets formally signed. FTAs with Asian countries mark the success of India’s “look east” policy.

India set to sign FTA with ASEAN giving hope to exporters
The Economic Times | May 31st, 2009
A senior commerce ministry official said signing trade-opening agreements with ASEAN and South Korea are on the 100-day agenda of the new United Progressive Alliance government for restoring high growth to the economy.

India, ASEAN resolve differences over FTA
Business Standard | May 28th, 2009
The last remaining differences between India and ASEAN on the ambitious FTA on merchandise goods have been ironed out and the deal is ready for signing.

» India USA FTA
FICCI pushes for Indo-US FTA excluding agriculture
Live Mint | June 29th, 2009
Noting that achieving a comprehensive free trade agreement between India and the US would take time because of sharp differences on several issues involved, industry body FICCI has called for an Indo-US FTA excluding the contentious issues like agriculture.

» Peru struggles over the Amazon
Peru and USA signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2006 and in June 2008, Peru’s president passed several decrees and laws regarding the Forest and wild life. The decrees, which were justified as necessary within the clauses of the FTA with the US, facilitate the transfer of Amazon land and resource rights to oil, mining, logging and agricultural companies to the detriment of traditional inhabitants. They also set the stage for the privatization of water resources. Read More...

» MSMEs Capacity building Workshop on FTAs
Traidcraft Exchange, UK and Pacific Institute of Management, Udaipur are organizing a national workshop on Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and FTAs at Udaipur on 12th June 2009. This workshop attempts to build FTA related capacity of SMEs and their representatives, relevant civil society groups and policy makers and also aims to discuss their future capacity building needs on FTA related issues.