(LEAD) S. Korea, India kick off negotiations on upgrading trade pact

(ATTN: UPDATES with start of talks; CHANGES photo and headline)

SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and India launched a new round of negotiations Thursday to upgrade their bilateral trade pact after a three-year hiatus, Seoul's trade ministry said.

The two nations implemented the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in January 2010 and began talks to upgrade the pact in 2015.

But negotiations have been suspended since June 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.

The 9th round began in Seoul for a two-day run, during which the two sides will discuss ways to improve the deal regarding tariffs on goods and services, investment and origin rules, among other issues, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

"Cooperation with India bears significance particularly at a time when we are facing global supply chain instability and growing economic uncertainties," ministry official Yang Gi-uk said.

"We will take the envisioned CEPA revision as a chance to expand bilateral trade and investment and to help our firms make inroads into the Indian market," he added.

Two-way trade stood at an all-time high of US$23.66 billion in 2021, according to government data.

graceoh@yna.co.kr
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