Joint Committee Directs Faster Negotiations
The 13th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting concluded with a directive to negotiators to accelerate the finalisation of outstanding chapters. According to a release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the committee urged sub-committees to work towards time-bound deliverables and achieve tangible outcomes in the review process.
Modernising the Trade Pact
The review aims to modernise the existing agreement by addressing customs procedures, trade facilitation, market access, and rules of origin. Three of the eight sub-committees—Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, National Treatment and Market Access, and Rules of Origin—are meeting alongside the main negotiations to advance discussions in their respective areas.
Co-Chairs and Participation
The Joint Committee was co-chaired by Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Nitin Kumar Yadav and Malaysia's Deputy Secretary General (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa. Delegations from all 10 ASEAN member countries participated in the discussions.
Expected Benefits
The government expects the review to improve market access, simplify trade procedures, and strengthen economic integration. Faster progress is anticipated to create new opportunities for businesses by reducing trade barriers and aligning the agreement with evolving regional and global supply chains.
According to the ministry release, "ASEAN remains one of India's key trading partners, accounting for around 11 per cent of India's global trade. Bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 128 billion during 2025-26, reflecting the strong economic partnership between the two sides and providing further opportunities to expand trade and investment cooperation."
Background of AITIGA
The AITIGA came into force in 2010 and governs trade in goods between India and the 10 ASEAN member states. The ongoing review seeks to update the agreement to reflect changing trade patterns and improve its effectiveness in promoting bilateral trade and investment in the years ahead.
