October 1, 2025
The negotiations will begin under the joint committee set up for the review, which oversees eight specialized sub-committees dealing with issues ranging from Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation
Despite progress over the past few months, officials caution that the review is unlikely to be completed in time for a major announcement at the upcoming 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on October 27
Trade with ASEAN is significant for India: ASEAN currently accounts for about 11 percent of India’s global trade
The Jakarta meeting is thus a critical milestone in the path toward updating the trade pact, one that seeks to deepen integration, strengthen compliance mechanisms, and foster mutually beneficial trade growth
India and ASEAN officials will convene in Jakarta next week to resume the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA), according to a statement by a senior government official. The meeting marks the next step in efforts to modernize the trade pact and address structural imbalances in bilateral goods trade.
The negotiations will begin from Monday under the joint committee set up for the review, which oversees eight specialized sub-committees dealing with issues ranging from Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation (SC-CPTF), Legal & Institutional Issues (SC-LII), National Treatment & Market Access (SC-NTMA), Sanitary & Phytosanitary Measures (SC-SPS), Rules of Origin (SC-ROO), Standards & Technical Regulations (SC-STRACAP), Trade Remedies (SC-TR), among others.
Despite progress over the past few months, officials caution that the review is unlikely to be completed in time for a major announcement at the upcoming 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on October 27 in Kuala Lumpur. After the 11th round of talks, leaders will be briefed on developments and asked for strategic direction.
India’s industry has long pressed for modernization of the trade framework to correct asymmetries in market access and ensure that trade is more balanced and sustainable. The original goods-only ASEAN-India free trade agreement was signed in 2009 and entered into force in January 2010; both sides committed in August 2023 to undertake a full review by 2025.
Trade with ASEAN is significant for India: ASEAN currently accounts for about 11 percent of India’s global trade. In fiscal year 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 123 billion, with India’s exports at USD 96 billion and imports at USD 84.15 billion.
The Jakarta meeting is thus a critical milestone in the path toward updating the trade pact, one that seeks to deepen integration, strengthen compliance mechanisms, and foster mutually beneficial trade growth between India and its ASEAN partners.
Source: Economic Times