Lok Sabha Question No. 2457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Impact of International Trade Agreements
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA, MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2457 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

## 2457. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA: SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO(AVANTHI):

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  recent  International  Trade  Agreements  under  Trans-Pacific  Partnership (TPP) and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are likely to deny Indian exporters easy access to these markets;
- b) if so, the remedial steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- c) whether the agreements  under TPP and TTIP are expected to  go much  beyond the WTO;
- d) if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  to  raise  the  issue  in  the  Nairobi  Ministerial Meeting of WTO; and
- e) whether  the  Government  is  trying  to  acclerate  the  ongoing  negotiations  under  the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) to (c) The negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have been concluded but the agreement is not yet ratified for implementation by the participating countries. The Members of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are currently engaged in negotiations. The government is continuously monitoring the developments with regard to Trans-  Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in close consultation with industry stakeholders.

(d) No Sirs, the government does not intend to raise the issue of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in the Nairobi Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

(e) During  the  27th  ASEAN  Summit  held  on  22  November,  2015  at  Kuala  Lumpur, Malaysia;  the  Leaders  of  the  Regional  Comprehensive  Economic  Partnership  (RCEP) countries in their joint statement instructed the Ministers and negotiators to further intensify their  efforts  towards  the  conclusion  of  the  Regional  Comprehensive  Economic  Partnership (RCEP) negotiations in 2016. A copy of this statement is enclosed at Annexure 1.

****

## Joint Statement on the RCEP Negotiations 22 November 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. We,  the Heads  of State/Government  of  the  Regional  Comprehensive Economic Partnership Participating Countries (ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand) reviewed the progress of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
2. We recall our Joint Declaration on the Launch of Negotiations for the RCEP and the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the RCEP, which lay the foundation for and the spirit in the conduct of RCEP negotiations since its commencement in May 2013.
3. We  welcome  the substantial progress made to date. Following the breakthroughs achieved by our Ministers, substantive negotiations on trade in goods, trade in services and investment have intensified. Text-based negotiations have also intensified.
4.  With  over  half  of  the  world's  population  and  almost  30  per  cent  of  the world's  output  and  trade,  RCEP  offers  immense  potential  to  improve  the standard of living for billions of people. We resolve to ensure that the RCEP delivers  on  its  potential  to  serve  as  a  growth  driver  and  a  key  pathway  for broader economic integration in the region.
5. We instruct our Ministers and negotiators to further intensify their efforts and we  look  forward  to  the conclusion of the  RCEP  negotiations  in  2016, contributing significantly to regional and global economic integration, providing  for  equitable  economic  development,  and  strengthening  economic cooperation.

******