India, Australia eye early conclusion on comprehensive trade pact

India, Australia to increase cooperation in critical minerals sector

After implementing the interim trade deal—Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)—in December, India and Australia now aim to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive trade pact by the end of this year.

Both countries are also looking at achieving $100 billion in bilateral trade.

“ECTA was the first stage of our economic engagement. We are now entering into phase two of our discussions where we are looking at a much wider ambit of subjects and taking this into a CECA,” commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said while addressing the media on 18th joint ministerial commission with his Australian counterpart Don Farrell.

When the