India and the ten member states of ASEAN held the 15th meeting of their trade agreement joint committee in Jakarta from 6 to 9 October 2026 to speed up stalled negotiations and update their bilateral commerce framework. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry led India’s delegation at the ASEAN Secretariat, where officials from both sides discussed ways to deepen economic ties and resolve policy disagreements that have blocked progress on several chapters of the agreement.
The talks reflect growing momentum to modernize a trade pact signed nearly two decades ago. Both India and ASEAN have signalled they want a more balanced deal that better reflects current economic realities and opens new opportunities for businesses on both sides.
Key facts
- Meeting held at ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-9 October 2026
- Co-chaired by Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Malaysia
- All ten ASEAN members participated: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam
- Three sub-committees held parallel meetings on legal issues, market access and rules of origin
- Meeting conducted in hybrid format allowing remote participation
- Next meeting scheduled for January 2027 in India
What the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement covers
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) is a bilateral trade pact between India and the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It aims to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers on goods exchanged between the two sides, making it easier for businesses to export and import products. The agreement has been in place for many years, but both sides now want to update it to include new sectors and remove restrictions that limit trade.
Why the review matters
Trade agreements require regular review to stay relevant as economies change and new sectors emerge. The current review is meant to modernize AITIGA into a “mutually beneficial framework,” meaning both India and ASEAN want changes that help their own businesses while remaining fair to the other side. The talks in Jakarta focused on resolving long-standing disagreements that have prevented chapters of the agreement from being finalized.
The three sub-committees and their focus
Three specialist groups met alongside the main talks to tackle specific issues. The Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues examined the rules and structures governing the agreement. The Sub-Committee on National Treatment on Market Access discussed how to open markets more fairly to goods from both sides. The Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin addressed how to determine which products qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the agreement. These technical discussions are essential to resolving obstacles that hold up the full modernization.
The push for faster progress
The Joint Committee directed all sub-committees to accelerate work on pending chapters and set firm deadlines for delivery. This signals that both India and ASEAN want to move beyond talks and reach concrete agreements. Officials emphasized the need for close coordination between the ten ASEAN nations and India to ensure momentum is maintained.
What this means for you
If the agreement is updated successfully, Indian exporters and businesses will face lower tariffs on goods shipped to Southeast Asia, making their products more competitive in those markets. Conversely, ASEAN exporters will find it easier and cheaper to sell goods in India. Consumers in both regions may see more affordable imports and greater product variety. The agreement could also make it simpler for companies in technology, agriculture, textiles and manufacturing to operate across the India-ASEAN region.
What happens next
The sub-committees will work to resolve outstanding issues and produce concrete proposals before the next Joint Committee meeting in January 2027, which will be held in India. At that meeting, officials will assess progress and decide on next steps toward finalizing the modernized agreement.