

China-India
China and India, the two giants of Asia, have been talking (unconvincingly) of the possibility of a bilateral free trade agreement for several years. A feasibility study was completed in October 2008, but there is much opposition from India’s business sector as well as many other political complications that are likely to keep the idea on a very low flame for a while.
last update: May 2012
Articles
-
17-Dec-2010 ’Only area where Indo-China ties doing well is commerce’
The first visit of a major Chinese leader in more than four years has yielded a bland joint communiqué skirting core Indian concerns but incorporating a commitment to rapidly expand a lopsided trade relationship that has already turned India into the raw-material appendage of a neo-colonial Chinese economy. -
10-Dec-2010 Trade imbalance to cast shadow on China-India talks
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao faces a tough task when he arrives in India next week to allay New Delhi’s fears over China’s rise as a global power , and to smooth tensions in an often fractious relationship. -
5-Apr-2010 Taiwan News 78 pct of Taiwanese still don’t understand ECFA, says DPP
An estimated 78 percent of Taiwanese still did not understand what the planned Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China was about, an opposition Democratic Progressive Party poll showed yesterday. -
5-Apr-2010 FT China offers to accelerate trade talks with India
China has offered to accelerate talks with India aimed at negotiating a bilateral trade agreement in a bid to balance a burgeoning commercial relationship between two of Asia’s largest economies that is now heavily skewed in Beijing’s favour. -
11-Jun-2009 Blakes Canada and India explore a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Earlier this year, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Stockwell Day, and Mr. Kamal Nath, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, jointly announced the agreement of both countries to initiate exploratory discussions aimed at creating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). -
11-Oct-2008 India PR Wire India, China complete FTA feasibility study: Minister
India and China have completed a feasibility study on their proposed Free Trade Agreement. It now awaits the approval of the leadership of the two countries. -
23-Apr-2008 FTA with China not a priority: Govt.
The government on Wednesday said a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China was not a "priority" for India due to "deep divisions" within the government and opposition from the industry. -
5-Apr-2008 Cautious approach needed on FTA with China: Assocham
India should be cautious while signing free trade agreements (FTAs), specially with China as it could affect the interest domestic industry, a report released by industry chamber Assocham said on Saturday. -
22-Mar-2008 Industry sees only troubles, no gains from China FTA
The government has been urged to adopt a cautious stand on free trade agreement (FTAs), especially in the case of countries like China, and discourage export of raw materials. Import duties should come down gradually under such pacts and India Inc should be enabled to face global competition, says a study by industry chamber Assocham. While acknowledging that India cannot shy away from globalisation, the government has been asked to beef up infrastructure and provide a favourable exchange rate mechanism to ensure a level playing field. -
10-Mar-2008 Financial Express Supachai: ‘An India-China FTA will be better than an India-US FTA’
Interview with the UN Conference on Trade & Development’s secretary-general, and former WTO chief, Supachai Panitchpakdi. -
9-Feb-2008 Business Standard Commerce ministry opposes China FTA
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. -
16-Jan-2008 FE No talks on FTA with China this year, says Nath
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. -
14-Jan-2008 TOI Chinese exports to India rising fast
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. -
11-Jan-2008 NDTV FTA with China unlikely: Nath
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. -
5-Jan-2008 Sify Pacing the FTA with China
One of the objectives of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s forthcoming visit to Beijing is to push for a free trade accord between India and China, preliminary work on which has begun. -
6-Dec-2007 Times of India India mulls FTA with China
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with China but a decision will be based on sensitivities of domestic industry. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh categorically stated that agriculture will not be included in FTAs. -
30-Oct-2007 Business Standard India-China FTA talks soon
India is likely to soon initiate formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, the third largest destination for Indian goods and the biggest source of imports. A task force comprising officials from both countries recently submitted its report saying the FTA was feasible. -
18-Oct-2007 PTI India should not rush into FTA with China: FICCI
India’s apex business chamber FICCI said India should not rush into a Free Trade Agreement with China, warning that ambitious tariff cuts can derail the growth momentum in bilateral trade. -
30-May-2007 China, India to advance feasibility research on regional trade arrangement
Chinese and Indian trade officials will meet in Beijing next month to discuss the viability of initiating a regional trade arrangement, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Wang Xinpei said on Wednesday at a regular press conference. -
30-Mar-2007 World Bank for Sino-India FTA
Trade within South Asia can be more than doubled if appropriate regional agreements on roads, rail, air, and shipping are put in place. A comprehensive report prepared by the World Bank ahead of the Saarc Heads of State Summit in New Delhi on April 3 to 4 has suggested that the instrumentality of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) be deployed not in promoting South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) but project by project cooperation in areas of mutual interest.