<p>“We will soon initiate (second round) of talks with Asean on services,” Union Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma said while addressing a conference on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Asean organised by Assocham here on Monday.<br /><br />India has already signed a FTA with the eight-member Asean. Without specifying the date for second round of negotiations on services, Sharma said that services were extremely significant part of Indian industry and India needed to broad-base its basket of trade with Asean through increased share of services exports to them. <br /><br />A high level Indian delegation headed by commerce secretary is already engaged with negotiations on this front with their counterparts in Asean, he said, adding “hopefully the talks would begin shortly to ensure that dialogues on this front too are arrived at logical conclusion.”<br /><br />Trade imbalances<br /><br />The minister indicated that India would also shortly address it’s trade imbalances related issues with China as there were certain concerns on this front. “While almost all trade imbalances related concerns with trading blocs in which India is externally engaged for achieving higher trade volumes have been addressed, some concerns still remain especially with China,” he said. <br /><br />Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said problem areas relating to trade between India and China were being identified and would be suitably addressed. India would strive towards working hand in hand with China while addressing the legitimate interests of developing countries in multilateral trade negotiations, he added.</p>
<p>“We will soon initiate (second round) of talks with Asean on services,” Union Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma said while addressing a conference on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Asean organised by Assocham here on Monday.<br /><br />India has already signed a FTA with the eight-member Asean. Without specifying the date for second round of negotiations on services, Sharma said that services were extremely significant part of Indian industry and India needed to broad-base its basket of trade with Asean through increased share of services exports to them. <br /><br />A high level Indian delegation headed by commerce secretary is already engaged with negotiations on this front with their counterparts in Asean, he said, adding “hopefully the talks would begin shortly to ensure that dialogues on this front too are arrived at logical conclusion.”<br /><br />Trade imbalances<br /><br />The minister indicated that India would also shortly address it’s trade imbalances related issues with China as there were certain concerns on this front. “While almost all trade imbalances related concerns with trading blocs in which India is externally engaged for achieving higher trade volumes have been addressed, some concerns still remain especially with China,” he said. <br /><br />Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said problem areas relating to trade between India and China were being identified and would be suitably addressed. India would strive towards working hand in hand with China while addressing the legitimate interests of developing countries in multilateral trade negotiations, he added.</p>
