Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Posted On: 14 OCT 2018 6:38PM by PIB Delhi

The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C. R. Chaudhary, attended the 6th RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Singapore on 12-13 October, 2018. The Ministers from 16 RCEP countries met in Singapore to discuss a modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among ASEAN and ASEAN's FTA partners.

The Ministers reviewed developments since the 6th RCEP Ministerial Meeting held on 30-31st August, 2018 in Singapore, which was attended by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu. They welcomed the intensification of market negotiations. While appreciating some narrowing of gaps, the Ministers urged all RECP Participating Countries to continue to exert all efforts towards meeting the targets set in the Package of Year End Deliverables.

C. R. Chaudhary held bilateral meetings, on the side lines of 6th RCEP IMM, with Trade Minister of Singapore, Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment of Australia, Minister of Trade & Export Growth of New Zealand and Vice Minister of China, Wang Shouwen. Singapore sought India's help in early conclusion of RCEP negotiations. Next round meeting of Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) is scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, later this month.

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RCEP negotiations: members urged to intensify market talks and meet the Package of Year End Deliverables. Ministers in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership reviewed progress, welcomed narrowing of gaps and urged intensified market negotiations to meet the Package of Year End Deliverables. On the margins, bilateral consultations were held to advance talks and secure support for concluding the agreement; Singapore requested India's help in expediting negotiations and the next Trade Negotiating Committee session was scheduled to continue negotiations.