The sixth round of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations took place in New Delhi on 18-19 December 2014. The re-engagement occurred after Prime Minister Abbott and Indian Prime Minister Modi jointly directed in November 2014 "that an equitable, balanced, mutually beneficial and high quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement be brought to an early conclusion to realise the potential of commercial relations".
The sixth round covered key issues including goods market access, services and investment, rules of origin, customs procedures, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues.
Negotiations are expected to accelerate in 2015 with the aim of delivering an early conclusion to the CECA negotiations. The dates for the seventh round will be set in early 2015.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade encourages interested parties to lodge or update submissions on the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.