The 10th Round of the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations took place from August 19-22, 2024 in Sydney. The discussions focused on key areas including goods, digital trade, government procurement, rules of origin, and agri-tech. This round of negotiations, held after a gap of approximately five months since the 9th Round, was marked by intense dialogue aimed at bringing greater clarity and convergence on the remaining provisions.
Intersessional meetings were held between the two rounds to bridge differences and work towards alignment on these and other unresolved tracks. The Indian delegation was led by Rajesh Agrawal, chief negotiator and additional secretary, Department of Commerce, government of India, while the Australian side was headed by Ravi Kewalram, chief negotiator and first assistant secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia.
The negotiations saw significant efforts to narrow differences, with both sides striving to better understand each other's proposals and seeking ways to achieve convergence. These discussions were mindful of domestic sensitivities, with a shared goal of reaching a balanced and mutually beneficial outcome, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.
All five negotiating tracks presented their findings and outcomes in a joint meeting of the chief negotiators, who provided further guidance for the future direction of the talks. It was agreed that, given the clear understanding achieved on the proposals under the five tracks, track leads from both sides would develop an action plan for continued negotiations via virtual meetings before the next round, expected to take place in India.
In addition to the formal negotiations, the Chief Negotiators reviewed the broader bilateral trade and investment relations between India and Australia. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and enhancing the economic partnership, building on the positive impact of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which came into force on 29 December 2022. Efforts were made to ensure that the CECA negotiations deliver meaningful benefits and a balanced outcome for both nations.
On the sidelines of the 10th Round, fruitful discussions were held with key stakeholders including Jodi McKay, national chair of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC), and Pat O’Shannasy, CEO of Grain Trade Australia. The round table meeting, organised by Australia, also saw the participation of the Consul General of India in Sydney. These discussions explored the feasibility of deepening economic cooperation between India and Australia through the CECA negotiations, with a particular focus on promoting investments.
The next round of the India-Australia CECA negotiations is likely to be held in November 2024 in India.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)