September 8, 2022 All day
Over the last three years, the Indo-Pacific has seen several historic international trade agreements signed: CPTPP and RCEP. These agreements, which now form the largest trading blocs in the world, have brought together a myriad of economies as varied as Australia, Vietnam, China, and Japan. India, however, is notably absent from these trading frameworks, preferring to engage with ASEAN states and East Asia independently through its Act East Policy. As Washington and Beijing vie for influence in the capitals of the Indo-Pacific, India seems to be trying to garner influence from outside the largest trade agreements ever signed. This roundtable focuses on India’s attempts to boost its trade from outside these major trading arrangements.
Some of the questions this panel addresses are:
- How effective has the Act East Policy been in boosting economic links between India and the region?
- Is it conceivable that India may opt into RCEP at a later date?
- What challenges does India face in boosting its economic reach in critical areas near abroad such as the Indian Ocean?
- What have been the consequences for New Delhi of staying out of CPTPP and RCEP?
