India won’t join RCEP free trade deal, cites unresolved ‘core’ issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the third Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit in Thailand's Bangkok on Monday. He conveyed India's decision to not join the RCEP free trade deal. Briefing the media after the summit, Indian Ministry of External Affairs' Vijay Thakur Singh said that the decision was right for India given the current circumstances. She said that the decision reflected assessment of the global situation as well as fairness and balance of the agreement. 15 other nations were part of the RCEP negotiations.