India and the Republic of Korea concluded the 12th round of negotiations for the upgrade of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi from May 25 to 27, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The negotiations were held pursuant to the Joint Declaration signed by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Republic of Korea Trade Minister Yeo Han Koo during the State Visit of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to India. Both sides had committed to accelerating the CEPA upgrade negotiations as part of efforts to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
During the three-day discussions, negotiators from both nations deliberated on a range of areas of mutual interest, including trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
In addition to traditional trade areas, India and South Korea also agreed to broaden the scope of cooperation under the CEPA framework by exploring emerging sectors such as digital trade, supply chain cooperation, and industrial strategic cooperation.
The CEPA upgrade talks are aimed at enhancing market access, streamlining trade procedures, and creating a more robust and future-ready economic partnership between the two countries. Officials from both sides expressed optimism over the progress achieved and reiterated their commitment to advancing the negotiations at an accelerated pace.
