Congress Criticizes Govt Over ASEAN FTA Review Remarks

New Delhi, June 24 (PTI): On Tuesday, the Congress party criticized the government following reports of dissatisfaction expressed by the ASEAN co-chair regarding the review of the India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This discontent reportedly stemmed from Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's remarks referring to several ASEAN countries as a "B-Team of China," which the Congress described as a significant setback for Indian diplomacy.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in charge of communications, took to X to share a media report highlighting the ASEAN co-chair's displeasure over Goyal's remarks. Goyal had labeled numerous countries within the region as a "B team of China."

In his post, Ramesh emphasized India’s strong civilizational, cultural, economic, and political relationships with the 10-nation ASEAN Group, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. He pointed out that ASEAN, established almost six decades ago, possesses a combined GDP just slightly lower than India’s. He criticized the Union Commerce and Industry Minister for dismissing these nations as the "B team of China."

Ramesh expressed concern, stating, "ASEAN now ticks him off. Indian diplomacy suffers yet another blow. This was needless."

Last week, during the India Global Forum (IGF) session on UK-India Science, Technology, and Innovation Collaboration at the Science Museum in London, Goyal commented, "There was a point of time 15 years ago when we were more focused on doing FTAs with countries who were our competitors. So, if I am doing an ASEAN agreement, it really is silly because (that is) opening up my market to my competitors, many of whom have now become the B team of China."

The Congress party strongly condemned Goyal’s remarks about the India-ASEAN trade agreements. They labeled his comments as "irresponsible and insulting."

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma issued a statement, asserting that Goyal's description of the India-ASEAN Trade Agreements as "belittling" was "unwarranted, ill-advised, and unfortunate."