Business Standard

In a first, non-trade issue gender equality included in FTA talks

Led by Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, India's approach to FTA talks has seen a perceptible shift

Piyush Goyal
Premium

Photo: Twitter @PiyushGoyal

Shreya Nandi New Delhi
A delegation from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was in for a pleasant surprise when it came calling in April for preliminary talks for a trade deal. India’s trade minister, Piyush Goyal, during a meeting with this delegation, proposed the inclusion of a chapter on gender equality and women in the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).
 
The EFTA delegation promptly agreed. It got something that would have been an unlikely entry in the trade talks menu until recently.
 
Goyal’s openness to a non-trade issue such as gender in FTA talks is not a volte-face, but

What you get on BS Premium?

  • Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app.
  • Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them.
  • Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006.
  • Preferential invites to Business Standard events.
  • Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more.
VIEW ALL FAQs

Need More Information - write to us at assist@bsmail.in