India very much part of RCEP talks, Nirmala Sitharaman rebuffs

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has iterated that India is still very much a part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) talks, rubbishing a media report which suggested that the country had been asked to either agree to remove tariffs on products soon or exit the proposed FTA talks.

Sitharaman clarified that India is participating in the next round of negotiations being held in Sydney from April 24 this year. 

2. The RCEP negotiations are happening in detail. India participating in the next round beginning 24 April '16 at Sydney, Australia.

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 20, 2016

A report in The Hindu said, citing two unnamed sources from two ministries, that India had been asked to leave the crucial RCEP talks after member nations -- the 10-country ASEAN nations, China, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea Japan -- "were upset over India's protectionist stance, "focusing only on th eexport of manpower and not on liberalising trade in goods and other services, as well as investment," the report said.

Sitharaman said that India has already made its offers for goods and services and they were now under discussion. 

3. We've made our offers for goods & services. Are being discussed. "India has been told...to leave the talks...?" Shocked to say the least!

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 20, 2016

The report, quoting one of the unnamed sources said, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was worried about India's lack of progress in FTA talks with RCEP, Australia, Canada and the European Union.