RCEP meet: India, China refuse to budge on tariffs, services trade

New Delhi resisted calls by most nations, which argued that India should slash existing tariffs on up to 90% of all goods

Positions on tariff reduction, services trade and investment facilitation have hardened during the latest negotiation round on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal in Beijing, as the deadline gets nearer, said sources.

The ministerial part of the talks that is seeing trade ministers from member nations trying to reach a consensus on contentious issues began on Friday. 

“However, 13 of the 25 topics of discussion within the RCEP remained unfinished after the technical negotiations were over by Thursday,” said persons in the know. 

These include the crucial trade in services, movement of professionals across borders, investments, dispute resolution and