India decides to opt out of RCEP, says key concerns not addressed

印度称因未能解决重点诉求，决定退出区域全面经济伙伴关系协定 

NEW DELHI: India won’t join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) because concerns about getting swamped by imports under the agreement — putting its domestic industry and agriculture at risk — haven’t been assuaged. The RCEP, which includes and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), aims to cover about a third of the world economy and half its population.

“The present form of the RCEP Agreement does not fully reflect the basic spirit and the agreed guiding principles of RCEP,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address at the RCEP summit in Bangkok, according to a tweet by official broadcaster Prasar Bharati. “It also does not address satisfactorily India's outstanding issues and concerns. In such a situation, it is not possible for India to join RCEP Agreement.”

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said the decision not to join RCEP will boost ‘Make in India’ as he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “bold and courageous decision to not join RCEP, since it was against our economic interests and national priorities”.

India runs a large trade deficit with RCEP countries and was looking for specific protection for its industry and farmers from a surge in imports, especially from . The decision comes amid rising opposition at home with leading political parties step up attacks on the RCEP.

新德里：印度不会加入区域全面经济伙伴关系(RCEP)，因为根据该协议，印度对进口产品泛滥，使其国内工业和农业面临风险的担忧没有得到缓解。包括和东南亚国家联盟(Asean)在内的RCEP的目标是覆盖全球约三分之一的经济和一半的人口。

据官方媒体Prasar Bharati发布的一条推文，印度总理莫迪在曼谷的RCEP峰会上发表讲话称:“目前的RCEP协议没有充分体现RCEP的基本精神和既定指导原则。也无法令人满意地解决印度悬而未决的问题和关注。在这种情况下，印度不可能加入RCEP协定。”

印度工商部长皮尤什·戈亚尔表示，不加入RCEP的决定将推动“印度制造”。他赞扬莫迪总理“做出了勇敢的决定，不加入RCEP，因为这违背了我们的经济利益和国家优先发展十项”。

印度与RCEP国家之间存在巨大的贸易逆差，印度正在为本国工业和农民寻求特别保护，使其免受进口激增（尤其是来自的进口）的影响。这一决定出台之际，印度国内的反对声浪日益高涨，各主要政党加大了对RCEP的攻击力度。

A joint statement by the RCEP countries said that the 15 remaining nations will begin formal work towards inking the pact in 2020 while still making efforts to resolve India’s objections. The 15 countries are the 10 Asean nations, , Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. “India’s final decision will depend on satisfactory resolution of these issues,” said a statement issued in Bangkok late on Monday.

Professor of economics at Columbia University and former Niti Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya said India hasn’t shut the door on the RCEP.

“India conveyed its decision not to join the RCEP agreement,” MEA (east) secretary Vijay Thakur Singh told a press conference in Bangkok after the RCEP summit. “In the given circumstances, we believe not joining the agreement is the right decision.”

A trade expert who did not want to be identified welcomed the decision.

“The move has given enough elbow room to India to be able to bilaterally resolve its issues with other countries,” he said. “The onus is now on other members. If they are unable to resolve our concerns, we will be out of it.”

区域全面经济伙伴关系协定成员国发表联合声明称，剩下的15个国家将为2020年签署该协定开始努力，同时仍将努力解决印度的反对意见。这15个国家包含10个东盟国家以及、日本、韩国、澳大利亚和新西兰。“印度的最终决定将取决于这些问题能否得到圆满解决，”周一晚些时候在曼谷发表的一份声明表示。

哥伦比亚大学经济学教授、前Niti Aayog副主席帕纳加里亚说，印度没有对RCEP关上大门。

“印度表示了不加入RCEP协议的决定，”RCEP峰会后，印度东部部长维贾伊·塔库尔·辛格在曼谷举行的新闻发布会上说。“在目前的情况下，我们认为不加入协议是正确的决定。”

一位不愿透露姓名的贸易专家对这一决定表示欢迎。

他表示：“此举为印度提供了足够的空间，使其能够与其它国家以双边方式解决问题。现在责任则在于其他成员身上。如果他们不能解决我们的问题，我们就不会加入。”

CONCERNS, OPPOSITION

Domestic industry and dairy farmers had strong reservations about the trade pact. India’s trade deficit with the RCEP nations is $105 billion, of which alone accounts for $54 billion. The main worry is over manufactured goods and dairy products from New Zealand flooding Indian markets, hurting domestic interests. The trade agreement was also seen as being detrimental to the government’s Make in India initiative.

On the other hand, India didn’t get any credible assurance on market access and non-tariff barriers, official sources said. India was also worried about kee 2014 as the base year for tariff reductions.

India had been consistent about raising these issues right from the start of RCEP negotiations, they said. Many of India’s earlier trade agreements had been lopsided and hurt domestic industry, they said.

“Poor negotiations under previous governments of free trade agreements (FTAs) caused harm to Indian industry and led to a distorted trade balance,” said one of them, adding that India was already reviewing its trade pacts with South Korea and Asean.

关注点和反对声

国内产业和奶农对该贸易协定持强烈保留态度。印度与RCEP的贸易逆差为1050亿美元，其中仅就占540亿美元。最主要的担忧是来自的商品成品和新西兰的奶制品会大量涌入印度市场，损害印度国内利益。人们还认为该贸易协议不利于政府的印度制造计划。

另一方面，官方消息人士称，印度在市场准入和非关税壁垒方面没有得到任何可信的保证。印度还担心将2014年作为关税削减的基准年。

他们说，印度从RCEP谈判伊始就一直坚持提出这些问题。他们说，印度早期的许多贸易协定都是不平等的，损害了国内产业。

其中一位官员表示:“前几届政府自由贸易协定(FTA)谈判不力，对印度工业造成了损害，并导致了扭曲的贸易平衡。”他补充称，印度已在审查与韩国和东盟(Asean)的贸易协定。

The sources said the previous United Progressive Alliance had also agreed to explore an India- FTA in 2007 and join RCEP negotiations with in 2011-12, blaming it for the lopsided deals. The impact of these decisions had resulted in India's trade deficit with RCEP nations increasing from $7 billion in 2004 to $78 billion in 2014, they said, adding that the domestic industry was still reeling under the impact of these decisions.

India made a strong case at RCEP for an outcome favourable to all countries and all sectors.

The prime minister told the leaders at the summit that India had been proactively, constructively and meaningfully engaged in the RCEP negotiations since inception and had worked for the “cherished objective of striking balance, in the spirit of give and take.”

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said it will continue to support and work with the government of India in its endeavor to integrate with the global economy through mutually beneficial trade agreements.

“CII appreciates government of India’s stance on addressing all outstanding issues before joining RCEP,” CII president Vikram Kirloskar said in a release. “CII welcomes the RCEP leaders’ joint statement acknowledging India’s very legitimate concerns and we urge all countries to work with India to resolve them. We sincerely hope that these issues will be resolved soon to the mutual satisfaction of all RCEP countries.”

消息人士称，之前的团结进步联盟也同意在2007年探讨印中自由贸易协定，并在2011-12年加入RCEP与的谈判。他们说，这些决定的影响导致印度与RCEP国家的贸易逆差从2004年的70亿美元增加到2014年的780亿美元。他们还说，印度国内工业至今仍受这些决定的影响。

印度在区域全面经济伙伴关系会议上极力主张取得对所有国家和所有部门都有利的结果。

辛格总理在峰会上对各国领导人表示，印度自RCEP谈判启动以来，一直积极、建设性和富有意义地参与谈判，并本着“互谅互让的精神，努力实现达成平衡的宝贵目标”。

印度工业联合会(CII)表示，将继续支持并与印度工商银行(政府)合作，通过互利的贸易协定努力融入全球经济。

CII主席Vikram Kirloskar在一份新闻稿中说:“CII赞赏印度政府在加入RCEP之前解决所有悬而未决问题的立场。CII欢迎RCEP领导人的联合声明，承认印度的担忧是非常合理的，我们敦促所有国家与印度合作解决这些问题。我们真诚希望这些问题能尽快得到解决，让所有RCEP国家都感到满意。”

《印度经济时报》网站读者评论：

译文来源：三泰虎   http://www.santaihu.com/48732.html        译者：Joyceliu

外文链接：https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Jayaraman Theeyarath

Legacy of UPAs FTA signed with many countries has ballooned to huge trade deficit from 7 billion in 2004 to 78 billion$ in 2014.India can ill afford such a distortion.This Government is working relentlessly to correct these distortions. For our PM Nation comes first. And he will take decisions in our best interest.

团结进步联盟与许多国家签署的自由贸易协定的遗留问题已经从2004年的70亿美元膨胀到2014年的780亿美元。印度承受不起这种剧变。本届政府正在不懈努力纠正这种失常。因为我们的总理把国家放在第一位。他将做出符合我们最大利益的决定。

Suchindranath Aiyer

Primarily, Modi has protected the interests of the non productive Government that preys on Indian Commerce and Industry to such an extent that India is unable to produce goods and services to internationally competitive standards of price and quality

首先，莫迪保护了非生产性政府的利益，这些政府掠夺了印度的商业和工业，以至于印度无法生产出具有国际竞争力的价格，提供符合质量标准的商品和服务

Vaithianathan R M

Ultimately done. India and all other Countries cannot subsist in the RCEP with ''s trillions in reserves which the Americans and Europeans and Indians gave them through unfair trade by all these past 30 years. Indian government and our industrialists must make use of this opportunity to work hard and build up its industries at war footing within the next 10 years or so. All other countries in RCEP now will realize in time and will be sucked dry by VACUUM CHINA with its EVER one sided policies.

终于行动了。过去30年里，美国、欧洲和印度因为的不公平贸易，给他们输送了数万亿美元的外汇储备，导致印度和所有其他国家都无法在RCEP中生存。印度政府和我们的实业家必须利用这个机会，努力进取，在未来10年左右的时间里打造战备状态的工业。RCEP的其他国家迟早会意识到这一点。

Somnath DasGupta

A very good decision and kudos to Mr.Modi for the same. First, he should ensure development of civil and administrative infrastructure in the rural hinterland focusing on roads, power (50% atleast preferably from local renewable sources i.e. solar), piped LPG/LNG, drinking water, bandwidth/optical cable connectivity and sanitation / bio waste recycling without any adverse environmental impact. Once the above is achieved, connectivity with cities can be established and logistical efficiencies realised. That will create the base for "Make in India" SME sector. Easing of labour laws but with due protection for labours retirement benefits coupled with the above will give a further boost to domestic industry. And then only will India be ready to join RCEP i.e. 20 years from now assuming RCEP exsts until then.

这是一个非常好的决定，同样也给莫迪先生带来了荣誉。首先,他应该确保在没有任何不良环境影响的情况下，在农村发展以道路、电力(至少50%来自当地可再生资源，即太阳能)、管道输送的液化石油气/液化天然气、饮用水、带宽/光缆连接和卫生/生物废物回收利用为重点的民用和行政基础设施。一旦实现上述目标，就可以建立与城市的联系，并提高物流效率。这将为“印度制造”中小企业创造基础。放宽劳动法，但对劳动者的退休福利给予适当保护，再加上上述措施，将进一步推动国内产业的发展。等到那个时候，印度再加入RCEP，也就是20年后，假设RCEP届时还存在的话。

Vaithianathan R M

Correctly said by you. Politicians don''t need to wear special glasses to know this. But India also needs a disciplined and civic society. For all this to happen, good policies won''t suffice, but a mass movement to move the people, to change the mindsets is requires. Civic mindedness and discipline must be cultivated and it takes years to achieve this. Let us start now.

你说得对。政治家不需要佩戴特殊的眼镜就能知道这一点。但印度也需要一个有纪律的公民社会。要实现这一切，光有好的政策是不够的，还需要群众运动来带动群众，改变思想。必须培养公民的思想和纪律，这需要多年的时间才能实现。让我们现在开始吧。

Shri Mahesh

Great idea at this time. We can always look at it later. We need free movement of Indians and Services Worldwide. Use Desi. Boycott Foreign. Make in India and Use in India. Support Desi Jobs and Businresses and Farmers. JAI HIND

这是个好主意。我们可以以后再看。我们需要印度人的自由流动和全球范围内的服务。抵制外国货。印度制造。支持就业、商业和农民。印度必胜。

Ravie Gupta

good move. this was pushed by dragons to push their business, India may not be beneficiary to this deal.

干得漂亮。龙想借此推动商品销售，印度可能不是这个交易的受益者。

Dr Mahesh

Time to ban all non core imports. make in India for Indiams and India

是时候禁止所有非核心产品的进口了。为印度人和印度人推动“印度制造”。

Prashant

IDIOTS of the highest order. Free trade is the only way to get your industry to innovate and grow. Otherwise it just breeds complacency and hurts the economy in the long run

自由贸易是让你们的产业得到创新和发展的唯一途径。否则，它只会滋生自满情绪，损害经济的长期发展。

ConvolutedThinker

Hopefully you are more idiot than those whom you call as idiots. What you talk is one sided utopia. FREE MOVEMENT OF NATURAL PEOPLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FREE TRADE. India is home to 17% humans with mere 3% land mass

希望你比那些被你称为白痴的人更白痴。你所说的是片面的乌托邦。人的自由流动比自由贸易更重要。印度有占到世界总人口17%的人口，国土面积只有3%

Travel Album

The reality is India wants to protect TATAs and Ambani''s businesses not really to safeguard in country interests. Basically to protect big business owners than to benefit the common people by accessing cheaper goods

事实是，印度这么做是想保护塔塔斯和安巴尼的企业，而非为了维护国家利益。基本上是保护大企业的所有者，而不是通过获得更便宜的商品来造福普通人。

Aditya Sinha

We Indians are proud of Ambanis, TATAs, Birlas, indals, and many more. They have made our nation proud and employed lakhs of people around the nation.

我们印度人为安巴尼人、塔塔人、比尔拉人、金达尔人以及更多的人感到自豪。他们让我们的国家感到骄傲，雇佣了全国成千上万的人。

Shri Mahesh

True. Buy Made in India Only. Anyone Worldwide is welcome to come Make in India. Support Desi Jobs and Businesses and Farmers. BUY LOCAL.

真的。只买印度制造的商品。欢迎世界各地的人来印度制造。支持就业、企业和农民。购买本地商品。

Fabulous Fab

Good decision by the Modi government.

莫迪政府的决定不错。

Rohit Shinde

good decision. we don''t want to flood our market. and take our business

这个决定好。我们不希望商品充斥我们的市场，抢夺我们的商业交易。

VVSViswanath

India at last, is proving to the world that they are no more the PUSH OVERS like in the yester years,well done MODIJI,HATS OFF TO YOU.

印度终于向世界证明，他们不再是去年那样的弱者了，干得好，莫迪，向你致敬。

Rockinrudran Jyoti

Finally a welcome step. A sensible decision. Putting the nation and it''s markets. India at this moment was definitely not ready to Join RCEP. It would have just massacred the local market and farmers.

终于迈出了可喜的一步。一个明智的决定。把国家和它的市场放在了重要的位置。印度目前显然还没有准备好加入RCEP。它只会绞杀当地的市场和农民。

Aruun

Like Belt and Road the present RCEP is a made by for the present deal seems to worked out in such a way that it will never suit India and has inbuilt disadvantages for India. Now Malaysia which is now seen playing anti US role openly as stated by MM in speech want to make this as anti US block.

就像“一带一路”一样，RCEP是为打造的，目前的协议似乎不适合印度，而且对印度有潜在的不利。现在马来西亚公开扮演反美角色，正如莫迪在讲话中所说，希望将此视为反美封锁。

Sanjiv Nisttal

On expected lines. PM Modi is a great visionary and he would never take any risky decision that may not be serving the interests of the country in toto.

这个做法符合预期。莫迪总理是一个伟大的梦想家，他不会做出任何不符合托托国家利益的冒险决定。

Yudhvir Talwar

India must resolutely solve trade deficit to the tune of $ 65 billion with . Such high trade deficit is unsustainable.

印度必须坚决解决与高达650亿美元的贸易逆差。如此高的贸易逆差是不可持续的。

Jay

India should remove the excise and all the other duties for all raw materials to zero% including Gold and silver.For Petroleum products the duties needs to be brought down or spend money on Publuc transport system.Stop the Freebies and pay Rs.2000 per month for Poor household for sustenance.The administration eats away so much of money and this will help reduce it.State Governments like Telengana, AP and TN are doling out so much to the tune 2 lakh crore each year. Central Government need not dole out more.Create import substitution industries on a war footing basis to stop imports from the central government’s money. After 10 years spin / sell it off no need to keep it in Central Governments control.JaiHind!

印度应该取消所有原材料的消费税和其他所有关税，包括把黄金和白银的关税降至零。对于石油产品，需要关税降低或为公共运输系统上投入资金。停止发放免费食品，每月向贫困家庭支付2000卢比的生活费。政府花费了这么多钱，这些做法能减少之处。泰伦加纳邦、美联社和泰米尔纳德邦等邦政府每年发放的资金多达20万亿美元。在战时基础上建立进口替代产业，以阻止中央政府用钱进口商品。

GY

What if other countries that are included in RCEP get their exports and imports addressed amongst themselves. if so, Wouldn''t India miss the export opportunity to RCEP countries?

如果RCEP的其他国家能够相互解决进出口问题，情况又会如何呢？如果是这样，印度会不会错过向RCEP国家出口的机会？