While negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with any country, It is not possible to isolate trade from related issues such as investments and the climate, stated Netherlands Ambassador to India Marten Van den Berg on Monday.
“We, as Europeans, think that one cannot isolate trade from other very relevant dimensions connected to trade,” Mr. Van den Berg said, when asked if the European Union could not settle for a quick EU-India FTA focussed on areas of mutual agreement, with more thorny issues set aside for separate resolution.
“Economics, trade and investments are very much connected – 70-80% of global trade is connected to investments. If we invest in each other’s societies, you must also have dialogues on how we address environment issues and climate challenges,” he emphasised, adding it did not make economic sense to have just a tariffs-focussed pact.
