CEPA
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a broader form of trade agreement than a conventional Free Trade Agreement (FTA). While an FTA primarily covers tariff reduction on goods, a CEPA encompasses a far wider range of economic domains.
- CEPA covers: trade in goods (tariff liberalisation), trade in services (market access, national treatment), investment (protection, promotion, dispute settlement), intellectual property rights (IPR), movement of natural persons (professionals and skilled workers), government procurement, and competition policy.
- FTA vs CEPA: An FTA focuses narrowly on goods tariffs; a CEPA includes services, investment, and behind-the-border regulatory issues — making it a more comprehensive instrument of economic integration.
- India has signed CEPAs with: Japan (2011), South Korea (2009), and the UAE (2022, technically CEPA); and has broader FTAs with ASEAN, Sri Lanka, and others.
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen May 26, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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