It will deepen the ASEAN FTA impact
Fast-paced moves are on to conclude the talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and seal an agreement. There have been noises of protest from the Congress party which was the chief architect of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and numerous other FTAs in the pipeline. Protests even from within the Sangh Parivar have not deterred the Modi government from pursuing the mega FTA.
The disastrous impact of the Indo-Sri Lanka FTA and ASEAN FTA on Indian farmers especially in the plantation sector —tea and coffee, spices, rubber, coconut and oilseeds — is well known. RCEP would be worse than ASEAN FTA.
Even as the UPA Government was negotiating the India-EU FTA, one of the prime concerns expressed by organisations of farmers, experts and even the largest milk cooperative Amul, was over the threat of import of milk and milk products, especially skimmed milk powder and butter oil from the EU.
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