India still open to RCEP membership: CIM

On Tuesday, Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal said that India is still open to joining the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal; provided, if all its concerns are met. “The doors are not shut for anybody. If the 15 RCEP nations make a sincere effort to resolve our concerns, to give us confidence and help us to balance the trade inequality, which Prime Minister has raised, then every nation should talk to their friends. We have not become enemies of each other,” he informed reporters. At the same time, however, the minister clarified that for now, the country’s decision of keeping out of the pact is final.

At the same time, India’s readiness to renew negotiations on a long-pending free trade agreement with the European Union was also indicated.