Maha: Ex-MP Shetti leads protest against RCEP at Mantralaya
The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana led by former Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetti on Monday protested in front of Mantralaya here against the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal.
The RCEP, comprising 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc and six other countries -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact.
The objective of launching RCEP negotiations is to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement.
Leaders of India and 15 Asia-Pacific countries are expected to announce later on Monday successful conclusion of seven-year negotiations to create the world's largest free trade region though its formal signing will be pushed to February next year.
The protesters demanded the Centre step back from the RCEP deal since it would bring severe hardship to the farming and industrial sectors in the country.
They ...