By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi, Oct 10. India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to accelerate negotiations to review their trade in goods agreement, setting time-bound targets for pending issues as both sides seek to modernise the pact and strengthen bilateral trade.
The decision was taken at the 15th meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee, held in hybrid mode at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 6 to 9.
The meeting was co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary-General (Trade) at Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
Delegations from all 10 ASEAN member countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – participated in the deliberations.
The Joint Committee directed its eight sub-committees to expedite negotiations on outstanding chapters under the AITIGA review, establish firm timelines for deliverables and strengthen coordination to ensure tangible progress towards concluding the negotiations.
Three sub-committees also held meetings on the sidelines of the Joint Committee session. These covered Legal and Institutional Issues, National Treatment on Market Access, and Rules of Origin. The discussions were aimed at resolving outstanding issues and improving mutual understanding on key aspects of the agreement.
India and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to a balanced, constructive and forward-looking agreement that addresses unresolved policy concerns, deepens economic integration and provides a mutually beneficial framework for bilateral trade.
The review of AITIGA is part of efforts to update the existing trade framework to reflect evolving economic priorities and improve its effectiveness in facilitating commerce between India and the Southeast Asian bloc.
The next meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee is scheduled to be held in India in January 2027 in hybrid mode. It will assess the progress made by the sub-committees and provide further guidance to advance negotiations towards the timely conclusion of the review.
