CECPA - Reinforcing the relationship between Mauritius and India

Mauritius and India reinforced and enhanced their special relationship through the implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership A greement (CECPA). The CECPA was signed on 22 February 2021 and entered into force on 1 April 2021. The CECPA covers four main areas, the key elements of which are reproduced below:

Trade in goods

Trade in services

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) measures

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Trade Remedies

Trade in goods

• Application of specific tariff by Mauritius on over 600 products, including key products such as special sugar, garments, medical devices, spirits and rum amongst others
  
• Grant of preferential access by India on various products including medical devices, food preparations, vanilla, ethyl alcohol, medicinal preparations, detergents, soaps, clock and watch parts, and jewellery, amongst others
  
• Elimination of non-tariff barriers between Mauritius and India (administrative, financial, exchange related or other measures which may hinder mutual trade)
  
• Elimination of import and export restrictions/prohibitions between the two countries
  

Trade in services

Full market access by both countries to some 31 sub sectors, including insurance and insurance related services, banking and other financial services, telecommunication, professional services such as accounting, auditing, market research, architectural, engineering, veterinary services, distribution services, tourism and travel related services, translation and interpretation services

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) measures

Agreement to cooperate in the areas of animal health and plant protection, food safety and mutual recognition of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, through their respective competent authorities, including by entering into equivalence agreements and/or mutual recognition agreements taking into account relevant international criteria

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Trade Remedies

Agreement to cooperate in the area of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures with the objective of facilitating trade in accordance with the World Trade Organisation.

In a nutshell, the CECPA aims to:

1. Strengthen and enhance the trade and economic cooperation between Mauritius and India;
   
2. Liberalise and promote trade in goods in accordance with the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs in place;
   
3. Liberalise and promote trade in services in accordance with the General Agreement on Trade in Services in place, including promotion of mutual recognition of professions;
   
4. Improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the 2 countries’ manufacturing and services sectors and expand trade and investment between them, including joint exploitation of commercial and economic opportunities in other countries;
   
5. Explore new areas of economic cooperation and develop appropriate measures for closer economic cooperation between Mauritius and India;
   
6. Revitalise, enhance and reinforce the economic and social cooperation between the 2 countries; and
   
7. Build upon the 2 countries’ commitments at the World Trade Organisation.
   

Important points

1. The agreement does not apply to any direct taxation measure and affect the rights and obligations of either country under any tax convention;
2. The agreement includes relevant provisions that would allow the continuation of negotiations on additional market access within a period of 2 years from 1 April 2021;
3. India to issue a side letter to CECPA on new laws on data protection in respect of services.

Download the full CECPA signed document (Pdf 6.4mb)

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