RCEP: Days before final negotiations, Surjit Bhalla-led panel bats for deal

Less than a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Bangkok for the final set of talks on the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact, a government-appointed panel on trade has strongly batted for it.

Released on Wednesday, the report by the High Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on growing India’s trade, argued despite existing challenges RCEP can be ‘particularly beneficial for India.’ RCEP nations continue to pressure India on finalising the deal on November 4, the deadline as of now.

Referring to a study by the National Council for Applied Economic Research, the report said India stands to benefit