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SAFTA

The South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was agreed to among the seven South Asia countries that form the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

SAFTA came into effect on 1 January 2006, with the aim of reducing tarrifs for intraregional trade among the seven SAARC members. Pakistan and India are to complete implementation by 2012, Sri Lanka by 2013 and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal by 2015.

SAFTA replaces the earlier South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) and may eventually lead to a full-fledged South Asia Economic Union.

The road to implementation, however, is plagued by the overarching conflict between India and Pakistan.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Serg!o/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

Textiles industry delegation submits agenda to Irani
SME Times | 21-Jun-2019
Delegation of FICCI Textiles Committee met Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Textiles and Women and Child Development recently and impressed upon her to launch a special mission for synthetic fibre and textiles value chain to make Indian industry competitive in the global trade which is predominantly done in the man-made fibre (MMF)-based items.
: India , SAFTA , textiles | garments
Local steel makers seek steps against low-cost import under SAFTA
New Age | 23-Oct-2018
Local steel manufacturers have demanded protection of locally made several types of finished steel products from uneven competition with low-cost commercial imports under SAFTA benefit.
: Bangladesh , India , SAFTA
Trade through SAFTA demanded
Daily Times | 12-Sep-2016
Eight finance ministers from South Asia pushed for the fast-track formation of the South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) to ensure larger investment inflows, higher trade volumes and energy generation.
: SAARC , SAFTA
SAFTA meet likely next month
The Himalayan Times | 25-Mar-2016
The commerce ministers will discuss on enhancing intra-SAARC trade flows under SAFTA and vision for further trade liberalisation by reducing non-tariff and para-tariff barriers.
: Asia , SAARC , SAFTA , TBT
Dhaka decides to protest Delhi’s anti-dumping investigation
| 16-Nov-2015
Dhaka has decided to protest the New Delhi’s action relating to allegation of dumping jute goods and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by Bangladesh, officials have said.
: Bangladesh , India , SAFTA
Sitharaman bats for early implementation of SAFTA
| 12-Oct-2015
Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a strong pitch for greater integration of the South Asian region, even as she underscored the need for speedy implementation of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) agreement.
: SAARC , SAFTA