India Refuses To Sign Up For RCEP, Says Its Core Concerns Remain Unresolved

Growing protests from industry, farm sector and political parties also the reason; other bloc members to give Delhi time to rethink

- Amiti Sen

India has decided not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact, saying it will not “compromise” on its core issues.

But other RCEP members, including the ASEAN bloc, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, are keeping the door open for New Delhi if it decides to join at a later date once its concerns are addressed.

“India has conveyed its decision not to join the RCEP agreement...India had significant issues of core interest that remained unresolved. The country has participated in good faith in the RCEP discussions and had negotiated hard with a clear-eyed view of our interests. In the given circumstances, we believe not joining the agreement is the right decision,” said Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, addressing a press conference in Bangkok after the RCEP Summit.

Other RCEP members, though, want India to keep its options open. “India has significant outstanding issues which remain unresolved. All RCEP participating countries will work together to resolve these outstanding issues in a mutually satisfactory way. India’s final decision will depend on satisfactory resolution of these issues,” a statement said.