Commerce Ministry To Review All Free Trade Agreements, Piyush Goyal Says
Piyush Goyal defends India’s decision to exit RCEP, says commerce ministry will now open and review all old free trade agreements.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said his ministry will review all existing free trade agreements with different countries to protect interest of industry and traders.
Addressing domestic traders in New Delhi, Goyal said India decided to walk out from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, agreement keeping in view the interests of small traders and the dairy industry.
Goyal said that free trade agreements with Japan, South Korea and Association of Southeast Asian Nations provided duty-free access to Indian markets but domestic goods face barriers in these countries.
These unfair pacts did not benefitted Indian traders and industry, he said.
"I want to assure you that the commerce ministry will open the old FTAs and hold discussions with these countries," the minister said.
Speaking about upcoming Delhi elections, Goyal appealed traders to support Bharatiya Janata Party as the Aam Aadmi Party government has not fulfilled their promises.
If the BJP would come to power in Delhi, it would stand with traders and work to protect their interests, he said.
Goyal alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-government creates hurdles in the implementation of central government schemes in the capital.
The kind of politics which AAP is doing in Delhi would not help traders, he added.
"Delhi now wants a strong government and a government which is committed for its development," he said.