India-Australia comprehensive trade deal negotiations from February 20

Economists said a comprehensive trade deal with Australia was a step in the right direction

After the implementation of an interim trade deal in December, India and Australia will begin negotiations towards a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) from February 20, a person aware of the matter said.

Both nations had signed the interim trade deal, also known as Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), in April that kicked in only from December 29. When the ECTA was signed, it was decided that the larger idea would be to use the foundation of the interim deal to resume negotiations on the more ambitious trade deal or CECA.

The CECA will include discussions on deeper market