Joining RCEP would have hurt India's interests, says Piyush Goyal

Being the basic framework of the RCEP deal, the FTA with the 10-nation grouping came into effect in 2010

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told Parliament on Tuesday that Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal was harmful for India’s interests, hinting that the country might not join the grouping any time soon.

Goyal said he had opposed the deal even before talks had ended. He said he was a proud member of the RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and that the traders’ body had remained steadfast in his opposition to the RCEP. 

“It’s funny that some leapt into the RCEP debate only after news of India’s not joining the bloc leaked,” the minister said.

He argued the Congress regime