Piyush Goyal Consults Industry Leaders as part of India’s FTA Negotiations with UK, EU and Canada

· The FTAs being Negotiated will Benefit Bilateral Trade, Create Jobs and bring Wider Social and Economic Benefits

The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry; Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal held a day-long stakeholder consultation with various sectors of the industry in Mumbai on14 May, 2022, on India’s ongoing negotiations on Free Trade Agreements with Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The Minister had separate meetings with representatives of automobiles, gem and jewellery, textiles, steel, copper and aluminium sectors. The hybrid interaction had industry leaders and associations attending both in person and online.

The Commerce Minister apprised the industry as to how the Agreements that are being negotiated will elevate the overall economic and commercial relations with respective partner countries which in turn will not only benefit bilateral trade but also create new jobs and provide wider social and economic opportunities. Mr. Goyal stressed on the potential benefits - both direct and complementary spill-over economic benefits, including increased investment, job creation and employment opportunities.

While appreciating the accommodative spirit of the Industry, the Minister urged the industry representatives to continue to support the trade negotiations in the same spirit in the wider interests of the nation, contributing to the holistic development of multi-sectoral economic value chains in the country.

The industry representatives thanked the Minister for entering into FTAs with UAE, Australia and other nations, that too at such a fast pace fulfilling a long-lasting dream for many of them. Further, all the stakeholders expressed gratitude to the Minister for taking into consideration concerns of Indian Industry and provided constructive inputs on this matter with a view to ensure overall balance between market access and domestic sensitivities.

A non-exhaustive list of Trade bodies/Associations/EPCs that participated in the consultations is given below.

Sl.No.	Sector	Trade Bodies/ Associations which participated
1.	Automotive Industry (Automobiles/auto components)	1. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), 2. Automotive Components Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) 3. Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) 4. EEPC India 5. CII
2.	Gems and Jewellery	1. GJEPC 2. All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council
3.	Textiles	1. Apparel Export Promotion Council 2. Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council 3. Indian Silk Export Promotion Council 4. Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council 5. Wool Industry Export Promotion Council 6. ICC 7. FICCI 8. ASSOCHAM 9. CII 10. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) 11. Handloom Export Promotion Council 12. Confederation of Indian Textile Industry 13. Silk Association of India 14. The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India 15. Association of Man-Made Fibre Industry of India 16. The South India Hosiery Manufacturers Association 17. Apparel Exporters and Manufacturers Association 18. Indian Polyurethane Association 19. India Woolen Mills Federation 20. PDEXCIL 21. Wool and Woollen Export Promotion Council
4.	Steel	1. Indian Steel Association (ISA) 2. Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) 3. Alloy Steel Producers Association(ASPA) 4. Indian Ferro Alloy Producers’ Association(IFAPA) 5. EEPC India 6. FICCI 7. CII
5.	Copper	1. Indian Primary Copper Producers Association (IPCPA) 2. EEPC India 3. Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA) 4. Indian Non-Ferrous Metals Manufacturers Association (INFMMA) 5. Bombay Metal Exchange Ltd.
6.	Aluminium	1. Aluminium Association of India (AAI) 2. Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA) 3. Aluminium Casters' Association (ALUCAST) 4. Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA) 5. EEPC India 6. Bombay Metal Exchange Ltd. 7. FICCI 8. CII