India-South Korea: 12th Round of CEPA Upgrade Negotiations

From 25–27 May 2026, India and the Republic of Korea held the 12th round of negotiations in New Delhi to upgrade the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK CEPA) and strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Key Points

Purpose of Talks: The negotiations focused on upgrading the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK CEPA), which came into force in 2010.
Background: The talks followed the Joint Declaration signed by both countries on 20 April 2026.
Focus Areas: Discussions covered Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Rules of Origin, Origin Procedures, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
Trade Deficit Issue: Both countries reviewed India’s growing bilateral trade deficit and agreed to address it within the CEPA framework.
New Cooperation Areas: India and South Korea decided to establish sub-groups on digital trade, supply chain cooperation, and strategic industrial cooperation.
Objective: Both sides committed to concluding the CEPA upgrade negotiations in a time-bound manner to create a modern, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement.
Significance: The upgraded CEPA is expected to deepen economic integration, improve market access, and strengthen India–South Korea strategic economic ties.