Category IR

FTA – EU, India

In 2007, EU and India launched the FTA talks. It hit a roadblock in 2013 as both sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues, including tariff, data security status for the IT sector and market access. Now again both are planning to resume FTA talks. The free trade agreement package will include an investment protection pact as well as a framework on geographical indication. The two sides are also likely to announce a connectivity partnership, aimed at boosting cooperation in sectors like railway, maritime and aviation as well as in the digital domain to bring people of the two sides closer to each other.

Reflect:

• What is the current status of trade relations between EU and India?
• What is the impact of Brexit in the entire scenario? 

G7 Summit

G7 perceives Russia, China and Covid as the biggest current threats. The G7 said it would bolster collective efforts to stop China’s “coercive economic policies” and to counter Russian disinformation. In the latest summit, they expressed support for Taiwan and Ukraine. They supported Taiwan’s participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assembly. They expressed concerns about “any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions” in the Taiwan Strait. On the coronavirus pandemic, the G7 pledged to work with industry to expand the production of affordable COVID-19 vaccines.  

Reflect:

• What are the fundamental differences between the West and the Russian and China?
• What is Group of Seven and their agenda?