ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA): Recently, India hosted the 8th meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.

• About AITIGA: It is a trade deal between India and the ten ASEAN member states.

o Signed in 2009 at the 7th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations in Bangkok, Thailand.

o Came into effect in 2010; also referred to as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement.

o Covers trade in physical goods and products; does not apply to trade in services.

o A separate ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement was signed in 2014.

• About ASEAN: It refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, established in 1967 with the Bangkok Declaration.

o Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

o Current members (10): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia & Vietnam.

o Promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and with other Asian countries.