NewKerala.com

India-Japan CEPA Talks Focus on Trade Balance, Investment Boost

The 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held in Tokyo, co-chaired by senior officials from both nations. Discussions centered on implementing the CEPA, enhancing trade and investment, and preparing for the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal emphasized the complementary strengths of both economies and the need to diversify trade, particularly in textiles, pharmaceuticals, and services. The visit also included industry roundtables and a trade roadshow to promote investment and collaboration.

Key Points: India-Japan CEPA Meeting in Tokyo Aims to Boost Trade

  • Review of CEPA implementation
  • Focus on balanced bilateral trade
  • Highlighting sectoral export potential
  • Strengthening investment and business environment
2 min read

7th India-Japan CEPA joint committee meeting held in Tokyo

7th India-Japan CEPA joint committee meeting reviews trade, investment, and ways to strengthen bilateral economic ties for a balanced partnership.

"harnessing the full benefits of the CEPA, including the movement of natural persons - Rajesh Agrawal"

Tokyo, March 4

The 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held on March 2 in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary, Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agrawal, Government of India, and the Senior Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan.

Both sides reviewed issues relating to the implementation of the CEPA and deliberated on ways to further strengthen bilateral economic engagement.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Agrawal, met the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade and investment, improving the business environment, and the upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

During the meeting with the METI Vice Minister, Agrawal highlighted the shared vision articulated by the leaders of both countries during the Annual Summit in August 2025 and underscored the need to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and investment. He emphasized the strong complementarities between the two economies--Japan's strengths in technology, capital, and advanced manufacturing, and India's skilled workforce, large market, and rapidly growing economy. He stressed the importance of harnessing the full benefits of the CEPA, including the movement of natural persons as envisaged during the Leaders' Summit.

Agrawal noted the significant potential for growth in Indian exports to Japan in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and services. He also underlined the importance of achieving a more balanced bilateral trade relationship to ensure long-term sustainability.

The Commerce Secretary further engaged with leading representatives of Japanese industry during a roundtable interaction. In the evening, a Trade and Investment Roadshow was organized by the Embassy of India in Japan in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Keidanren, focusing on promoting trade from India and facilitating greater investment flows from Japanese companies.

Agrawal apprised participants of India's conducive policy environment for trade and investment, including ongoing measures to improve ease of doing business and simplified regulatory processes. He emphasized that the CEPA provides a stable framework ensuring tariff certainty and regulatory predictability, thereby fostering a facilitative environment for deeper collaboration between India and Japan as trusted partners in global value and supply chains.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good to see talks on movement of natural persons. Many skilled Indian professionals, especially in IT and engineering, can benefit from easier access to the Japanese job market. However, I hope the government also ensures that any agreement protects the rights and working conditions of our people abroad.
A
Aman W
"More balanced bilateral trade" is the key phrase here. For too long, trade has been skewed. We import a lot of high-value machinery and electronics from Japan. It's time our exports catch up. Let's push our services, software, and generic medicines more aggressively.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable energy sector, I see huge potential here. Japanese technology in solar and hydrogen, combined with India's implementation scale and ambition, can be a game-changer for clean energy goals. Hope such meetings fast-track those collaborations.
K
Karthik V
While the strategic partnership is important, I respectfully feel our negotiators could be tougher on market access for our agricultural products. Japanese food safety standards are notoriously strict and often act as non-tariff barriers. Simplifying that should be a top priority.
N
Nidhi U
The complementarity is perfect! Japan needs a young workforce, we need their tech and investment. The bullet train project is a symbol of this partnership. More such joint ventures in infrastructure will benefit both economies. Let's make 'Make in India' a hub for Japanese companies too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50