» European Parliament Votes on Report on EU-India FTA
In what can be seen as a contribution of civil society mobilizations, on March 5, 2009, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) voted on 140 tabled amendments to the draft report on the FTA between India and the European Union (EU). On February 25, European NGOs had presented a letter to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) belonging to INTA calling on them to halt negotiations and adopt a fundamental change of approach in trade relations between the EU and India (Letter to Members of INTA Committee). Read More...

» Welcoming the Czech Presidency to the EU
Since January, the half yearly presidency of the EU was assumed by the Czech Republic. In a previous Digest (FTA Watch – India No. 2, February 14), we had published two articles about the trade policy priorities of the Czech Trade Ministry. An impassioned presentation by the Czech minister for industry, Martin Riman to INTA affirmed a commitment to free trade. Read more...

» EFTA-India FTA
EFTA and India meet for third round of free trade negotiations
EFTA | February 27, 2009
The negotiations on a broad-based Free Trade Agreement between the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States and India held their third round in New Delhi from 23-26 February 2009. Read more...

» ASEAN–India FTA
Negotiations for an ASEAN-India FTA were concluded in October 2008. The agreement was to be signed at the 14th ASEAN Summit held at the end of February in Thailand. But, the current economic situation has necessitated a decision by the Cabinet. This has put the agreement on hold, along with similar agreements with Thailand and South Korea. (See FTA Watch – India No. 3, February 23, 2009). With the general elections around the corner, these decisions are likely to be postponed further. Read more...

» People’s ASEAN
More than 1000 participants from the ASEAN region gathered in Bangkok, prior to the official ASEAN summit. A statement, “Advancing a People's ASEAN”, highlighted the priorities of a people-centred ASEAN. Read more...