Regional trade agreements (RTAs) refer to agreements that govern trade between countries that are located within a particular region. These agreements are designed to promote trade, increase investment, and improve economic integration among the participating countries. India has been actively involved in negotiating and signing several regional trade agreements with other countries.
India is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), which was established in 2006. SAFTA is an agreement between the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries and aims to reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade between the member countries. The member countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
In addition to SAFTA, India has also signed several other regional trade agreements. These include:
1. India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – This agreement was signed in 2009 and covers trade in goods, services, and investments between India and the ASEAN member countries.
2. India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) – This agreement was signed in 2011 and covers trade and investment between India and Japan.
3. India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) – This agreement was signed in 2010 and covers trade and investment between India and South Korea.
4. India-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) – This agreement was signed in 2004 and covers trade in goods between India and the member countries of Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay).
5. India-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – This agreement was signed in 2003 and covers trade in goods between India and Thailand.
These regional trade agreements help India to boost its economic growth by increasing its trade with other countries. They also help to promote regional integration and cooperation. However, there are also some challenges associated with regional trade agreements. These include concerns about the impact of these agreements on domestic industries and the possibility of unfair competition from other countries.
In conclusion, regional trade agreements play an important role in promoting trade and economic integration among countries. India has signed several regional trade agreements with other countries, including SAFTA, India-ASEAN FTA, India-Japan CEPA, India-Korea CEPA, India-Mercosur PTA, and India-Thailand FTA. While these agreements have the potential to boost India`s economic growth, there are also some challenges associated with them that need to be addressed.