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Thursday, August 14, 2025
TopicRCEP

Topic: RCEP

World is warming up to China for trade. But India is left with just a handful of minilaterals

It seems China is able to impose itself as a critical business partner even at a time when countries have been grouping up against its increasing belligerence under Xi Jinping.

India’s fast economic recovery will surprise everyone in 2021-22: NITI Aayog’s Rajiv Kumar

Rajiv Kumar says Modi govt’s labour reforms and PLI scheme will boost industry and exports, and not joining RCEP won’t freeze India out of global markets.

Australia, India joint defence activities increased four-fold in 6 years, says envoy O’Farrell

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell says countries looking to create new & resilient supply chains, CECA trade pact will move forward.

Church ‘committed land fraud’ in Andhra, Canadian donors say will fight to repair damage

A selection of the best news reports, analysis and opinions published by ThePrint this week.

India risks hurting its exports to RCEP countries for very reason it quit the trade bloc

Tariffs will be eliminated on at least 92% of traded goods among the 15 nations that signed the RCEP. Meanwhile, some of India’s top 10 exports will face erosion in market share.

India’s RCEP exit & lure of protectionism versus creative destruction of capitalism

In episode 625 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint's Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta talks about what RCEP is and why India chose to stay out of it.

Not signing RCEP could be one of Modi’s biggest blunders, ‘atmanirbhar’ an admission of defeat

It’s unrealistic to expect manufacturing to be 25% of India’s GDP by 2030. ‘Atmanirbhar’ concept is Nehruvian, and India’s competitiveness has to be improved.

RCEP would’ve led to flood of imports into India. Reform is a better way to boost exports

India hasn’t signed the RCEP, leading to concerns that it will get isolated. But it’s a China-centric deal that would have few advantages for India’s exports.

Modi rightly didn’t join RCEP a year ago. SE Asian states are unlikely to benefit much

Joining a China-led trade arrangement because the US is unwilling to provide an alternative is a strategic equivalent of cutting your nose to spite your face.

How will RCEP benefit member nations and what does India’s exit from the trade pact mean

New Delhi: After eight years of negotiations, 15 Asia-Pacific nations have finally signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), hailed as one of the...

On Camera

Asim Munir wants to be guardian of the Middle East. He’s fated to fail at home

Countering insurgency needs the Pakistan Army to demonstrate a political will that ties leaders at the centre with those in the borderlands. But it may not have the imagination.

Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE

Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.

India, US troops to undertake joint military exercise next month, first after Op Sindoor

21st edition of annual joint military exercise will be held from 1 to 16 September, aimed at sharing military tech, operational best practices & disaster relief coordination methods.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.