🇮🇳 India–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement: A Strategic Review 🇮🇳🤝🌏

India and the ASEAN bloc have had a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place since 2010.
In 2023, the total trade between India and ASEAN reached $123 billion.
However, a significant trade deficit of $43 billion was recorded — not in India’s favour. 📉

🔍 Key Concern: There are growing indications that China is rerouting its exports through ASEAN nations, adversely affecting India’s trade interests. 🚢➡️🌐

⚙️ In response, India and ASEAN have agreed to review the existing FTA to address emerging challenges and ensure fair trade practices. 🔄📑

🏭 At the same time, India must focus on strengthening its own manufacturing ecosystem by improving:

Product quality ✅

Ease of doing business 🏗️

Overall industrial competitiveness 🔧📈


This will help boost exports from India and reduce dependency on imports. 🚀🇮🇳

📚 Relevant for:
✅ GS Paper 2 – International Relations
✅ GS Paper 3 – Economy (Exports & Manufacturing)

#UPSC #InternationalRelations #IndiaASEAN #FTA #GS2 #GS3 #Economy #Exports #Manufacturing #TradeDeficit