Negotiations to conclude the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) are progressing, with the aim to reach an early conclusion this year.
The sixth round of the CECA negotiations was held in New Delhi from 18-19 December 2014, having commenced in May 2011.
In September 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed both countries’ commitment to creating an equitable, balanced, comprehensive and high quality agreement.
Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, reinforced this message during January’s Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) – a 450-strong business mission to enhance investment, education and tourism ties with India.
Key issues covered in the sixth round included goods market access, services and investment, rules of origin, customs procedures and technical barriers to trade (TBT). These measures covered the application of food safety and animal and plant health regulations.
With dates for a seventh round of CECA negotiations to be set soon, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is encouraging interested parties to lodge or update submissions on the potential outcomes and impacts of a trade agreement with India.
Nicola Watkinson, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, said, ‘Australia is keen to identify, strengthen and deepen relationships with India and a quality free trade agreement will help to achieve this’.
