ASEAN-India economic ministers meet in Manila; trade at $128.38 billion in 2025-26
India took part in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila, Philippines (PIB, 24 September 2026). The focus was the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). India-ASEAN trade reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025-26, 10.55% of India’s total trade.
- Meetings
- 14th EAS-EMM; 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation
- Venue
- Manila, Philippines
- Trade 2025-26
- USD 128.38 billion
- ASEAN share
- 10.55% of India’s global trade
- Key issue
- AITIGA review
- ASEAN members
- 11, including Timor-Leste
The ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting: what happened?
ASEAN is one of India’s biggest trade partners. India feels the trade-in-goods deal signed with ASEAN has given ASEAN more gains than India. Both sides are now reviewing it.
- India took part in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila [PIB].
- India-ASEAN bilateral trade reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025-26; all 11 ASEAN members, including Timor-Leste, participated [PIB].
Who are the 11 ASEAN members?
| Country | Country |
|---|---|
| Brunei | Cambodia |
| Indonesia | Laos |
| Malaysia | Myanmar |
| Philippines | Singapore |
| Thailand | Timor-Leste |
| Vietnam |
What is the East Asia Summit?
- A forum of ASEAN with partners. The EAS partners at this meeting were India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Russia and the United States.
- ERIA, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, presented a paper on energy security and industrial clusters.
- The ASEAN Secretariat briefed on the economic outlook for 2027.
What do the numbers show?
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Bilateral trade, 2025-26 | USD 128.38 billion |
| ASEAN share of India’s total trade | 10.55% |
Why does the ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Trade | ASEAN is about a tenth of India’s trade. |
| Strategy | Economic ties back India’s Act East outreach in the region. |
| Negotiation | The AITIGA review is India’s chance to address trade asymmetries. |
| Business | Indian firms in the Philippines raised their export issues with the delegation. |
What are the challenges in the ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting?
- Trade asymmetries under AITIGA, which the review aims to address.
- Making the agreement more user-friendly for businesses.
What should be done next on the ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting?
- Conclude an AITIGA review that is balanced and mutually beneficial.
- Make the agreement more trade facilitative for businesses.
- Use business forums to fix exporters’ problems.
What can Prelims ask on the ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting?
- AITIGA = ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement.
- ASEAN now has 11 members, including Timor-Leste.
- ERIA = Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
- India-ASEAN trade 2025-26: USD 128.38 billion.
- Meetings held in Manila, Philippines.
How to write about the ASEAN-India economic ministers meeting in Mains
Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Why is India seeking a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement? What outcomes should it aim for?
- Intro: Manila meetings, trade figures.
- Problem: trade asymmetries.
- India’s aims: balanced, user-friendly, trade facilitative.
- Strategic value of ASEAN.
- Conclude.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-09-24): india took part in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila.
- ASEAN membership (now 11) and EAS composition are Prelims-friendly.
Quotable data pointIndia-ASEAN bilateral trade reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025-26; all 11 ASEAN members, including Timor-Leste, participated.
PIB: Ministry of Commerce: 14th EAS-EMM and 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation, 24 Sep 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: 11th ASEAN member; EAS members. · Mains: Why India seeks an AITIGA review.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Which of these is a member of ASEAN as per the 2026 meeting list?
Answer (c) & explanation
PIB, 24 Sep 2026 lists 11 ASEAN members including Timor-Leste.
India-ASEAN bilateral trade in 2025-26 was about
Answer (b) & explanation
USD 128.38 billion (PIB, 24 Sep 2026).
Questions students ask about this
What is AITIGA?
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement, now under review.
How large is India-ASEAN trade?
USD 128.38 billion in 2025-26, 10.55% of India's total trade.
Where were the 2026 meetings held?
In Manila, Philippines.
How many ASEAN members took part?
All 11, including Timor-Leste.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Ministry of Commerce: 14th EAS-EMM and 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation, 24 Sep 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending