 "Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu represented India at the talks")
A lack of consensus on tariff and market access issues would make it tough for the member nations to conclude talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact by end of the year, according to the Commerce Ministry. It is learnt that the latest talks on the subject, between RCEP trade ministers in Singapore, remained deadlocked, adding to the uncertainties over a deal.
Led by the 10-member Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc, RCEP trade ministers adopted a joint proposal last week to decide on the broad contours of the mega-regional deal by end of 2018. This
