NEW DELHI – The world’s biggest trade deal is likely to move forwardwithout India for the time being, diplomats and officials said Monday, asnegotiators pushed to finalise the sprawling Asian pact backed by China.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) includes 30 percentof global GDP and half of the world’s people.
Objections by India dashed hopes of signing the deal at this weekend’sAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok, afterseven years of gruelling negotiations.
India has raised concerns about market access, fearing its domesticindustries could be hard hit if the country is flooded by cheapMade-in-China goods.
The other members have agreed on the text of the draft agreement, aimingfor deal to be signed next year.
“It is the 15 participating countries that have decided to move forwardfirst,” China’s deputy foreign minister Le Yucheng told reporters Monday.
“Whenever India is ready, it is welcome to get on board,” he said.
RCEP includes the 10-nation ASEAN bloc along with China, India, Japan,South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The deal has gained new traction amid a bruising US-China trade war thatexperts fear could drag global growth.
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Indian premier Narendra Modi, who is under domestic pressure to pull out ofRCEP, told the Bangkok Post over the weekend that it would create”unsustainable trade deficits”.
Indian unions have staged protests calling for more of a say in the finaldeal.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday “the text of RCEP isdone”, echoing the deal’s open-door policy.
“It is important to have India in and that is certainly our preference,” hetold reporters in Bangkok.
Even without India in the mix, RCEP will be the world’s largest trade pact.
A diplomatic source in Bangkok told AFP India’s inclusion in the deal isimportant to offset Beijing, the world’s second biggest economy.
“RCEP has better strategic value if it includes India. Without India, thereis no balance,” the diplomat told AFP. -APP/AFP
