<p>The Prime Minister's Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) Saturday gave the green signal for talks on the FTA with Australia. <br /><br />"That India has now formally agreed to begin the negotiation process is a milestone in the Australia-India relationship," Australia's Trade Minister Craig Emerson said in a statement issued here by the Australian high commission.<br /><br />He said that India was an "enormous, rapidly expanding market for Australian businesses and negotiations for a high-quality trade deal are central to the (Prime Minister Julia) Gillard government’s wider plans for greater economic integration between our two countries”.<br /><br />The decision to start FTA negotiations comes ahead of the visit of Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma to Australia May 12, when he will meet Emerson.<br /><br />The Australian minister said that the launch of FTA negotiations will feature in the talks, with Australia looking forward to determining negotiating objectives and mandate.<br /><br />"Such a deal would broaden the base of merchandise trade, remove barriers to services trade, facilitate and encourage investment and address behind-the-border obstacles to trade,” said Emerson.</p>
<p>The Prime Minister's Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) Saturday gave the green signal for talks on the FTA with Australia. <br /><br />"That India has now formally agreed to begin the negotiation process is a milestone in the Australia-India relationship," Australia's Trade Minister Craig Emerson said in a statement issued here by the Australian high commission.<br /><br />He said that India was an "enormous, rapidly expanding market for Australian businesses and negotiations for a high-quality trade deal are central to the (Prime Minister Julia) Gillard government’s wider plans for greater economic integration between our two countries”.<br /><br />The decision to start FTA negotiations comes ahead of the visit of Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma to Australia May 12, when he will meet Emerson.<br /><br />The Australian minister said that the launch of FTA negotiations will feature in the talks, with Australia looking forward to determining negotiating objectives and mandate.<br /><br />"Such a deal would broaden the base of merchandise trade, remove barriers to services trade, facilitate and encourage investment and address behind-the-border obstacles to trade,” said Emerson.</p>