Archive · 26 Sep 2026
India, Australia Advance CECA and Investment Treaty Talks
India and Australia already have a trade agreement signed in 2022.
They now want to make that agreement broader through a new deal called CECA.
They are also discussing a treaty to give businesses more protection when they invest in the other country.
Australia has critical minerals, while India wants to do more manufacturing and processing.
The countries also want to work together on renewable energy, technology, agritech and education.
They may make it easier for accountants and other professionals to work across both countries.
They have discussed reducing tax and paperwork problems for businesses.
The articles give different totals for recent trade, possibly because they use different measures or time periods.
India and Australia are negotiating a broader Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to expand their 2022 trade pact.
The countries are also working on a bilateral investment treaty intended to support two-way investment.
Critical minerals, manufacturing, processing, renewable energy, technology, agritech and education are identified as cooperation priorities.
Professional bodies are being encouraged to deepen recognition arrangements so accountants can work more easily across both markets.
Reported trade figures differ by measure: one article cites $50.2 billion in goods and services trade in 2025, while another reports $21.09 billion in total trade in 2025-26.
- Who
- India and Australia, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal outlining the initiatives.
- What
- The countries are negotiating a broader CECA and a bilateral investment treaty while expanding cooperation across multiple economic sectors.
- When
- The announcement was made on Friday at the ICAI Oceania International Conference 2026; the existing ECTA began in December 2022.
- Where
- The plans were discussed at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’s first Oceania International Conference in Australia.
- Why
- To deepen trade and investment, link Australia’s mineral resources with India’s manufacturing capabilities, and reduce professional and regulatory barriers.
- Existing agreement
- India and Australia signed the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in 2022, and it came into force in December 2022.
- Proposed trade pact
- The countries are negotiating a broader Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement described as balanced, fair and equitable.
- Investment treaty
- India and Australia are working toward a bilateral investment treaty to strengthen investment ties.
- Cooperation areas
- Priorities include critical minerals, manufacturing and processing, renewable energy, technology, agritech, education and professional services.
- Trade figures
- One article reports $50.2 billion in goods and services trade in 2025; another reports total bilateral trade of $21.09 billion in 2025-26.
- Exports
- One article reports Australia exported about $32 billion in goods and services to India and imported around $18 billion in FY2024-25.
- Investment stocks
- At the end of 2025, Australia’s investment stock in India was $26.8 billion, while India’s investment stock in Australia was $45.3 billion.
- Professional cooperation
- Goyal urged ICAI, CA ANZ and CPA Australia to deepen mutual recognition arrangements for accounting professionals.
