Forum against FTAs | 6 Dec 2010
The Indian government has signed, is set to sign or is negotiating
close to 30 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including a few with
developed countries like the European Union, the European Free Trade
Association and Japan. The EU-India FTA, proposed to be signed by the
end of this year, binds India into irreversible commitments in
multiple areas like trade in agriculture, industrial goods and
services, foreign investment regulations, intellectual property
rights, and government purchases.
Many of the FTA commitments go beyond those taken by India in
the World Trade Organisation. The commitments impose heavy obligations on India
and have the ability to significantly restrict the country’s regulatory space as well as
impact livelihoods, incomes, other social and economic conditions, including access
to food and health within the country.
Further, such agreements are being signed in secrecy, without adequate
consultation with stakeholders including farmers, indigenous
communities, small industries and businesses, women’s groups, food
right groups, retailers and even with national parliaments or with
state governments. Not only is this undemocratic, but it violates the
Federal Structure of the Indian State.
In this context, the Forum against FTAs organised a briefing meeting
to raise concerns and interact with Communist Party of India Member of
Parliament, D. Raja and Green Party Member of the European Parliament,
Ms Franziska Keller. We have made a set of 8 clips that give an account of the
issues raised during the briefing meeting.
Videos:
Briefing meeting on EU-India FTA with D. Raja, Member of Parliament, India & Franziska Keller, Member of European Parliament
by the Forum against FTAs
13th November, 2010, Constitution Club, New Delhi
EU India FTA Briefing: The Context, Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKpkvxhBInM
EU India FTA Briefing: The Role of Parliament, Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egsRTbQP_Zs
EU India FTA Briefing: Democracy and Transparency, Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZuVI_JXE8A
EU India FTA Briefing: Impact on Agriculture, Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9MhUO8xR4w
Impact on Fisheries
EU India FTA Briefing Part 5 of 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6wJRw12gOE
Impact on Mining
EU India FTA Briefing Part 6 of 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w8O5afUlbM
Impact on retail and financial services
EU India FTA Briefing Part 7 of 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNXm7DOdyRE
Access to Medicines: From the frying pan, into the fire
EU India FTA Briefing Part 8 of 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ehzL8J_Tls