Advertisement

Updated November 3rd, 2019 at 07:06 IST

Piyush Goyal counters Sonia: India joined RCEP negotiations in UPA era

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday countered Congress President Sonia Gandhi's remarks on the proposed RCEP pact

Reported by: Digital Desk
Sonia Gandhi
| Image:self
Advertisement

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday countered Congress President Sonia Gandhi's remarks on the proposed mega free trade agreement RCEP, saying it was during the UPA regime when India joined negotiations for this pact.  In a series of tweets, the minister said that Sonia Gandhi has suddenly woken up to RCEP and FTAs. He asked where she was when FTA with ASEAN was signed in 2010 and when FTA was signed between 2010-2011 with South Korea, Malaysia and Japan. He questioned her about UPA government's decision to open 74% of its market to ASEAN countries when richer countries like Indonesia opened only 50% for India, 

Read Piyush Goyal's tweets below:

READ | Indians in Thailand give standing ovation to PM Modi for Kashmir move

Gandhi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the government on the state of economy, saying signing the RCEP agreement will result in "untold hardship" for farmers, shopkeepers and small enterprises. "As economic decisions have not damaged the economy enough, it is now ready to deal a body blow to it by signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) - the regional free trade agreement of 16 Asian countries," Gandhi said. Continuing his attack on Gandhi, Goyal tweeted, "So where was she - When trade deficit with RCEP nations increased from $7 Billion in 2004 to $78 Billion in 2014? When her Govt forced India to join RCEP negotiations with China in 2011-12." On Prime Minister expressing commitment "to a comprehensive and balanced outcome" from RCEP negotiations, the minister said, PM @narendramodi ji has highlighted that RCEP must be a win-win We too would like a win-win outcome. We believe that for this, addressing our concerns over unsustainable trade deficits is important.

READ | 'Connecting North East India to Thailand is our focus': PM Modi

RCEP is a trade pact being negotiated amongst 16 countries. Talks are going in Bangkok to iron out differences. The commerce minister was also there for the meeting of RCEP trade ministers. The trade ministers meeting is precursor to the RCEP leaders' summit, scheduled on November 4 in Bangkok, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exchange of words on the agreement came at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bangkok to attend the RCEP Summit. 

READ | PM Modi greets crowd in 5 different languages at 'Sawasdee Modi'

(With PTI inputs)

Advertisement

Published November 3rd, 2019 at 06:37 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Lok Sabha Elections 2024
a few seconds ago
Hacker
a few seconds ago
Game Changer
3 minutes ago
chain snatching
9 minutes ago
Shahjahan Sheikh in CBI Custody: First Visual Emerges | WATCH
10 minutes ago
UP: Father-Son Die After Being Hit By Vehicle During Morning Walk
11 minutes ago
Heinrich Klassen's daughter
12 minutes ago
Arvind Kejriwal
16 minutes ago
Delhi Finance Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj
21 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo