Economics

Modi’s Treating Trade Deals Like Trump

India abandons RCEP deal over concerns about farmers, industry
Needs tough labor, land reforms in order to bolster growth

A protest to condemn the government’s decision on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership deal, Nov. 4. Photographer: Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images

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By Iain Marlow and Shruti Srivastava

November 5, 2019 at 11:23 AM UTC

Updated on

November 6, 2019 at 5:33 AM UTC

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As Indian officials held last-minute talks on joining the world’s biggest regional trade deal at a summit in Bangkok, farmers back home were launching nationwide demonstrations -- chanting, holding up placards and burning signs in protest.