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India

Sri Lanka: The cost of free trade
19-Feb-2008 The Island
India’s Minister of Commerce was in Colombo last week. He had the usual few words to say about the benefits that are supposed to have accrued to pretty much everybody since the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Sri Lanka in 2000. Unfortunately, the story isn’t so simple. Taking a closer look at what has happened in practice would prompt even the most ardent believer to question the undoubtedly beguiling theory of free trade.
Talks with US on for Bipa-like trade treaty
14-Feb-2008 Economic Times
India and the US have begun discussions this week on an agreement to promote bilateral investment. The negotiations are expected to be protracted as the US agenda is highly ambitious.
GM trials in India threaten trade ties
13-Feb-2008 Times of India
India finds itself increasingly on the defensive in agricultural trade for permitting field trials across the country in a host of genetically modified food crops — rice, brinjal, okra, potato, tomato and groundnuts — and thereby exposing conventional crops to the risk of transgenic contamination. A case in point is a rather dodgy no-contamination certificate that the regulator, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, was forced to give two months ago in response to a restriction imposed by Russia on import of rice, groundnuts and sesame seeds from India.
Commerce ministry opposes China FTA
9-Feb-2008 Business Standard
India’s commerce ministry has endorsed India Inc’s stand against signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with China until it becomes a market economy that follows transparent pricing of manufactured goods and services.
Differences over negative list hold up India-EU trade pact
7-Feb-2008 Economic Times
India Inc’s eager wait for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union could get a little longer as differences have cropped up over the items which would be kept off the pact.
India, Malaysia free-trade deal set for March 2009
6-Feb-2008 AFP
Malaysia and India have agreed to try to finalise a free-trade agreement by March 2009, Indian officials said Wednesday after the first round of talks.
India: Free trade talks launched with four European nations
27-Jan-2008 Sify
India is on course to signing its first free trade agreement with the Western world after Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath Saturday launched a joint task force to negotiate a deal with four European nations.
Australia: ’India’s financial sector interests us’
24-Jan-2008 Economic Times
The new Australian government would forge closer relationship with India and take the partnership forward in key areas like energy infrastructure, agriculture and food processing, feels Simon Crean, Australia’s minister for trade.
Which India, Mr Brown?
22-Jan-2008 The Guardian
The EU’s stated aim is to use its planned free trade agreement to open up new Indian markets to European exports, especially in those areas which have traditionally been closed to foreign companies. India, which aims to win opportunities for its own exports, has asked that it be allowed some flexibility in opening up its domestic markets in order to protect the most vulnerable sectors of its economy. The EU has refused to grant India any such leeway.
India asks Indonesia to remove trade barriers for pharma items
20-Jan-2008 The Hindu
India has asked Indonesia to remove non-tariff barriers on imports of pharmaceutical products as part of a larger set of measures to boost two-way commerce.
Norwegian medicine for Vedanta
20-Jan-2008 Civil Society
On 19 November 2007, the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi received some unusual visitors...
Report of the India-EFTA joint study group
17-Jan-2008
The Joint Study Group recommends that the governments of the EFTA States and India enter into negotiations for a broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (TIA).
No talks on FTA with China this year, says Nath
16-Jan-2008 FE
Indicating that a free trade agreement (FTA) with China is a long way off, commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday that New Delhi and Beijing would not have any discussions on such a pact during 2008.
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
14-Jan-2008 Lanka Business
Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said.
Olive oil imports set to rise post India-EU FTA
14-Jan-2008 FE
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement may open doors for easy import of olive oil from Europe. Major olive oil exporting countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece are insisting upon India to reduce its duty, remove non-tariff barriers and other local taxes and levies and marketing restrictions like maximum retail price system that guarantee a 35% margin to the retailer.
Chinese exports to India rising fast
14-Jan-2008 TOI
India Inc may have got some ammunition to ward off a free trade agreement with China. A study has revealed a steep growth in major manufactured good imports from China.
India, EU to make trade pact offers in February
13-Jan-2008 Business Standard
Even as experts doubt the possibility of a “deep free trade agreement” between India and the European Union (EU), both sides are likely to exchange offers on goods and services by the end of the next month.
FTA with China unlikely: Nath
11-Jan-2008 NDTV
India and China are expected to sign dozens of trade deals during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s three-day visit to China from January 13, but India is wary of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
US, India eye bilateral investment treaty
10-Jan-2008 AFP
The United States and India are to explore the possibility of forging a bilateral investment agreement in high-level talks next month, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said.
Free trade with US in the works
9-Jan-2008 Telegraph
Union commerce minister Kamal Nath today said India was in talks with the US and Canada for free trade agreements. “Bilateral trade agreements are currently in the pipeline with at least 10 potential partners ranging from the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations), the EU, the US and Canada,” the minister said.