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Authors

James Nedumpura

Abstract

The paper examines India’s experience in regulating trade and investment, especially since the initiation of trade and economic reforms in 1991. Political opposition in India to assuming obligations under international treaties resulted in the adoption of various policy flexibilities in areas such as public health and access to drugs, local content measures, environmental standards, trade remedies and such other topics under the WTO. In recent times, India has signed comprehensive economic partnership agreements with developed economies such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore and is negotiating a trade and investment agreement with the European Union (EU). The paper provides an analysis of the focus and coverage of issues under these trade and investment agreements and areas where India has negotiated development space or policy autonomy. In addition, the paper discusses the recent claims made against India under various Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreements (BIPA) and the safeguards adopted by India while negotiating such new agreements, or renegotiating, or reviewing existing agreements. Based on this approach this paper seeks to contribute to the project that attempts to compare and contrast the multiple strategies adopted by Southern countries in regulating trade and investment

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