In Bangkok, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations—India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—signed a maritime transport cooperation agreement. This initiative aims to bolster regional connectivity and trade.
According to Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura, the agreement aligns with current tariff changes, notably those imposed by the U.S. under President Donald Trump. "This further highlights the urgency and importance of our efforts to connect and facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services through multimodal transport," he stated. Despite the context, no formal discussion of the U.S. tariffs occurred during the ministerial meeting.
Details on enhancing regional connectivity remain undisclosed, but efforts focus on integrating over a dozen ports across Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. The spokesperson emphasized the goal of achieving comprehensive connectivity across land, sea, and air. The recent U.S. tariffs, particularly affecting Myanmar and Sri Lanka, underscore the need for a consolidated regional approach.
Shabana Barua from the Jindal School of International Affairs noted the agreement's positive impact on intraregional trade, especially from India's maritime trade perspective. Discussions on a broader BIMSTEC trade agreement continue, with an emphasis on concluding negotiations promptly. Raj Kumar Sharma of NatStrat suggested the U.S. tariffs could expedite BIMSTEC's free trade negotiations, urging regional solutions to global trade challenges.
Source: Datamar News