India's Need for Cross-Disciplinary Capacity in FTA Negotiations

India must develop cross-disciplinary capacity to handle non-trade issues in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, according to Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal. Emphasizing the rise of such issues, Barthwal highlighted the necessity of creating a dedicated pool of legal experts for technical guidance in international trade and investment matters.

India must develop cross-disciplinary capacity to effectively address non-trade issues during free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, said Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.

Speaking at a Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) function last week, Barthwal noted the increasing emergence of non-trade issues in trade negotiations.

The Commerce Ministry emphasized the need for dedicated legal experts to enhance India's participation in international trade, investment negotiations, and dispute settlements. The CTIL, established in 2016, aims to provide the Government of India with analysis on legal issues related to international trade and investment law. While non-tariff measures (NTMs) often protect health and the environment, they can become non-tariff barriers (NTBs) when arbitrary, hindering trade.