EU wants 'misunderstandings' out before resuming FTA talks

The European Union wants to sort out some "misunderstandings" before resuming the talks on the long-stalled proposed Free Trade Agreement with India, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.
She also said that the two sides are yet to finalise the dates to resume the negotiations.
Speaking to reporters here, Sitharaman said the EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has responded to her communication that had sought a meeting of chief negotiators of the two sides on the agreement.
"She has written to me and that there are no pre- conditions and that EU would want to have some of the misunderstandings sorted out much before the talks can resume. This is sum and substance of what she has written to me," Sitharaman said.

She, however, did not specify what those 'misunderstandings' were.
"Those of the kinds of things on which the Ministry will definitely move forward. We want to work with the EU. We want to sign that agreement. We shall move forward and talk. Off course, the dates have still not given," she added.

The Minister said one has to be mindful of the fact that EU is going through a time when they are waiting for the outcome of Brexit.
Launched in June 2007, the negotiations for the proposed Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) have seen many hurdles with both sides having major differences on crucial issues like intellectual property rights, duty cut in automobile and spirits, and liberal visa regime.

Senior officials from both the sides met have twice so far this year to resolve the contentious issues.
The pact is aimed at reducing or significantly eliminating tariffs on goods, facilitate trade in services and boost investments between the two sides. The two-way commerce in goods between India and the EU stood at USD 98.5 billion in 2014-15.
On other FTAs, Sitharaman said a framework is being drafted for the proposed India-Iran preferential trade agreement.
She said India is actively moving forward on other free trade pacts including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Australia, Israel and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

A joint study group have been set up for the India and Eurasian Customs Union - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan - pact and the first draft report is ready.
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When asked about concerns being raised about loss of
revenue due to the FTAs, Sitharaman said is something which her Ministry will discuss with the Finance Ministry.
In any FTA, if duties have to come down, it will certainly going to have a bearing on revenue, she said.
"So we need the Finance (Ministry) to also tell us what will be the implication in terms of revenue loss," she said.

The Minister said the intention is to understand the issue in a comprehensive manner as to what actually it means in terms of revenue loss.
"if you bring down the duties from some level, what does it means in terms of loss of revenue? "We have asked them to work it out to understand at different levels," she added.
On finding a permanent solution to the food security issue at the WTO, she said there should be a timeline for it.
"The peace clause is with us and we shall wait for the public stockholding matter to be given a permanent solution," she said.

On the national rubber policy issue, Sitharaman said that the Ministry would soon come up with the policy.
The policy is aimed at addressing issues pertaining to the sector and boost the production of the plantation crop.