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India and Sri Lanka Resume ECTA Negotiations after Five-Year Pause

  • 04 Nov 2023

The 12th round of ECTA negotiations took place in Sri Lanka from October 30 to November 1, marking a restart after 11 rounds of discussions held from 2016 to 2018.

Key Points

  • Progress Review: During this recent round, both sides assessed the progress made and identified nine resolved issues, indicating a positive step forward.
  • Ongoing Discussions: Discussions covered topics such as the quota on apparel, pepper, and pharmaceutical procurement. Both parties agreed to continue these talks and explore fresh avenues for resolving these matters.
  • Broad Discussion: The negotiations encompassed various chapters, including trade in goods and services, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and dispute settlement. Areas of agreement and areas necessitating innovative solutions were identified.
  • Building on Progress: Both sides recognized the importance of building upon previous progress while remaining open to revisiting their positions to reflect new developments in the proposed ECTA.
  • Trade and Economic Cooperation: The successful conclusion of these negotiations is anticipated to unlock new opportunities for trade and economic collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, fostering further growth in bilateral trade.