Highlighting the opinions and thoughts of policymakers and think-tanks on global trade and foreign policy

India is now the next frontier of economic revolution. We have the demography for it. About 800 million people in India are below the age of 35 years. Their aspirations, energy, enterprise and skills will be the force for India’s economic transformation. We now have the political mandate and the will to make it happen.

Source: Media sources

Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister, While addressing a gathering at the Tsinghua University during his visit to China

We welcome any deal that stops Iran from having a nuclear capability and this is what we have been assured by the US and by the other P5+1 countries, that all pathways to a bomb will be closed to Iran.

Source: The Guardian

Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, While extending support to Barack Obama to reach a nuclear deal with Iran

The EU and Mexico will want to consolidate all this new openness in North America. The closer our modernised deal is to those high standards, the easier that will be.

Source: Yahoo News UK

Cecilia Malmström, EU Trade Commissioner, On efforts to update the EU-Mexico free trade agreement (FTA) in line with the USA-Canada FTA

I hope there can also be greater cooperation on trade flows between Brazil and China. The issue of free trade between Brazil and China is very important and must be on the agenda.

Source: AsiaOne

Dilma Rousseff, Brazilian President, Speaking on trade ties with China

Mainland China is our largest trading partner, so it is impossible to reduce our trade with mainland China significantly.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwanese President, While arguing for close trade ties with China

FDI in multi-brand retail cannot go in direct route. Every decision has to come to the cabinet. We will not allow it.

Source: Media sources

Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, Defending the government’s stance to not reduce the FDI limit in multi-brand retail