Table of Contents 1 Introduction; 1.1 Introductory 1; 1.2 Background 1; 1.3 Origins of GA n 2; 1.4 Why trade agreements 3; 1.5 Why India is resorting to RTAs 4; 1.6 Benefits of business under India's FTA 5; 1.7 Effect of FTAs on the Multilateral Trading System 6; 2 , Free Trade Agreements - Concept and Analysis; 2.1. Introduction 7; 2.2. Multilateralism versus Regional Trade 8; 2.3. Economic and Political reasons for RTAs 9 2.4. Growth of Regional Trade Agreements 10; 2.5. Committee on Regional Trade Agreements 11; 2.6. Are RTAs Building or Stumbling Blocks? 11; 3 . GATT framework and Trade Agreements; 3.1. Introduction 16; 3.2. GA n Article XXIV 16; 3.3. Is There a "Purpose" Test For RTAs? 20; 3.4. The "Not On The Whole Higher Or More Restrictive" Requirement 22; 3.5. Reasonable Length Of Time for Interim Agreements 26; 3.6. The Enabling Clause 30; 3.7. GATS Article V 35; 4 India's trade agreements - An overview; 4.l. Introduction 38; 4.2. Indian Trade Agreements 38; • INDIA-ASIAN FTA; • India-Japan CEPA; • India-Malaysia CECA; • Agreement on South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA); • India-Mercosur PTA; • India-Afghanistan PTA; • Agreement on India-Bhutan Trade & Commerce; • PTA between India and Chile; • Trade Agreement between India and Bangladesh; • Trade Agreement between India and Maldives; • India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (lSLFTA); • INDIA-NEPAL Treaty of Trade; • India-Singapore CECA; 4.3. India's trade agreement negotiations 60; • Framework Agreement on Economic, Cooperation and India-GCC FTA Negotiations:; • India-Thailand CECA negotiations; • India-SACU PTA negotiations; • India-Mauritius CECPA negotiation; • BIMSTEC FTA negotiations; • India-EU Broad Based Trade and Investment; Agreement negotiations; • India-European Free Trade Association; (EFTA) Negotiations on broad-based; Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement; 5 Conclusion 73; 6 Bibliography 76.