New Delhi, 20 June 2023. Over 130 organisations and civil society leaders have expressed concern for the lack of transparency and inclusive consultation processes adopted by the Government of India in negotiations for free trade and investment agreements or other economic partnerships. Among the signatories are two of FIDH’s members organisations in India - People’s Watch and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
In an open letter, the signatories made reference to the ongoing negotiations with several potential partners, including the European Union who is currently in a fifth round of trade discussions with the Indian Government. The signatories stressed that conducting negotiations without wider stakeholder engagement would not allow to tackle the impact of these economic partnerships on human rights, social justice and the environment.