Ashwani Mahajan, the co-convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch has told CNBC-TV18 that the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement (FTA) in its present form is unacceptable from India’s point of view. This comes days ahead of the meeting of the heads of state of RCEP nations in order to find a solution to the pending free trade agreement issues.
Recommended Articles
View All
Delhi is one of the most populated cities prone to earthquakes in India — can it handle what Turkey couldn't
Feb 7, 2023 IST6 Min(s) Read
A look at Salman Rushdie’s Victory City and controversies surrounding the author
Feb 7, 2023 IST4 Min(s) Read
Ways to save tax other than Section 80C with your home loan
Feb 7, 2023 IST3 Min(s) Read
From boyhood heartthrob to a serious musician
Feb 7, 2023 IST6 Min(s) Read
“India has already made its stand very clear that in the present form RCEP is not acceptable. There are several concerns being raised by the domestic constituency – dairy, farmers, manufacturing, steel industry, telecom industry, automobile industry, chemical industry, even cycle industry has been raising concerns,” he said.
Mahajan further added that the centre was really never interested in the RCEP negotiations.
“Yes, they were engaging and engagement is also for the reason that you need to understand the dynamics of trade and what others are doing because after all, you are in this region, but as far as the outcome is concerned, the government of India was never interested. In the last five years, the political leadership has not gone ahead with either EU FTA or with RCEP.”
“Suddenly there was a change because the situation which has been created by our negotiators knowing very well about the implications on dairy, agriculture, I do not know the reason, but they have gone ahead with it,” he added.
