India-ASEAN Trade and Economic Relations

India's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) started with its Look East Policy in the year 1991. ASEAN has a membership of 10 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and full dialogue partner in 1996. In November 2001, the ASEAN-India relationship was upgraded to the summit level. On August 13, 2009, India and ASEAN signed the Trade in Goods Agreement under the broader framework of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and ASEAN. The Trade in Goods Agreement provides for elimination of basic customs duty on 80 percent of the tariff lines accounting for 75 percent of the trade, in a gradual manner starting from January 1, 2010. Conclusions of negotiations for the Services Agreement and Investment Agreement were announced during the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit held on December 20, 2012 in New Delhi. The Agreement was signed during ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM)-India Consultations in August 2013. This book provides a comprehensive account of trade and economic relations between India and ASEAN.