India-ASEAN free trade agreement

Negotiations over the agreement have stalled over India’s refusal to roll back tariffs on petroleum, palm oil, pepper, tea and coffee in a bid to protect the domestic sector.

Trade between India and the 10 countries comprising ASEAN reached nearly $20 billion last year and is projected to top $30 billion by 2010. Government officials expect the agreement to cover 75 percent of trade immediately and all products by 2011.