5th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement Joint Committee held in Jakarta

August 7, 2024

The 5th AITIGA Joint Committee and related meetings took place from July 29 to August 1, 2024, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. The goal of these meetings was to strengthen economic cooperation between ASEAN countries and India, emphasizing the importance of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

Background on AITIGA

AITIGA, established in 2009, aims to make trade easier between ASEAN countries and India by reducing barriers and promoting free trade, thereby strengthening economic ties. The recent meetings focused on reviewing and updating this agreement to fit current trade conditions.

Structure of Recent Meetings

The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Rajesh Agrawal from India’s Department of Commerce and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa from Malaysia. Delegates from all 10 ASEAN countries and India attended, ensuring that all sides were represented in the trade discussions. Discussions to review AITIGA started in May 2023. The Terms of Reference and Negotiating Structures were established, and negotiations began in February 2024.

Sub-Committees and Their Functions

Eight sub-committees addressed important areas such as:

National Treatment and Market Access
Rules of Origin
Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment Procedures
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Legal and Institutional Issues
Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation
Trade Remedies
Economic and Technical Cooperation

Each sub-committee reported their findings to the Joint Committee to guide future discussions.

Bilateral Engagements

During the meetings, the Indian delegation also had bilateral talks with delegates from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam to better understand the issues at hand. At a dinner organized by the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, the delegation spoke with Indian businesses to gather insights and expectations about the AITIGA review, emphasizing the initiative’s goal of achieving practical outcomes for industry stakeholders.

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