[Marxistindia] Don't proceed with RCEP

[news from the cpi(m)]

November 2, 2019
Press Statement
 
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:
 
Don't Proceed with RCEP
 
The last-minute negotiations are in progress to conclude the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
being negotiated between ASEAN, China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South
Korea and India.  The secretive and undemocratic manner in which BJP Central
government is conducting these negotiations for RCEP without involving the
stakeholders and without consulting the states and parliament is highly
objectionable.  
 
If India chooses to join this FTA, it will harm India's  manufacturing  and
agriculture and widen the country's current account deficit. This will in
turn have serious adverse consequences on employment and people's wellbeing.

 
Due to previous government's decisions to prematurely open up the Indian
economy, India's trade deficit has seen a steady increase and stands
currently at 184 Billion USD. The present proposed FTA would exacerbate it
further as it faces a deficit with almost all its existing FTA partners.
 
At a time when Indian manufacturing is already dealing with a slowdown and
rural distress is continuing unabated, eliminating import duties, in
addition to making pledges on investment, Intellectual Property Rights
(IPRs), services and e-commerce under RCEP will completely constrain the
government's ability to form an effective policy for revival of manufacture
and for overcoming the ongoing agrarian crisis.
 
We urge the government to not sign the agreement hastily and demand to put
the draft of it before the ensuing session of the Parliament.
 
The CPI(M) extends its solidarity and support to the all-India protest on
November 4 called by Kisan organisations against the proposed RCEP.
 
 
 
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