Business Standard

Australian ex-PM Tony Abbott calls for bilateral free trade pact with India

To focus on the RCEP, India had earlier decided to hold off talks on bilateral FTAs with both the nations

Former Australian PM Tony Abbott (left) with PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday
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Former Australian PM Tony Abbott (left) with PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday Photo: PTI

Subhayan Chakraborty New Delhi
Arguing that the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact is not comprehensive enough in scope, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for India and Australia to restart talks for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

“Invariably, nations are very wary of anything that might end up leaving vulnerable countries permanently indebted to another. So, I would be cautious about RCEP as it looks like a trade arm of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” Abbott told Business Standard on Wednesday. On a 5-day visit to India, Abbott met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

To focus on the RCEP, India

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