In the economic transformation of Southeast Asia, a tale of two FTAs

Early trends suggest that, in the period post Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), China has demonstrated superior gains when compared to other participating nations. Studies suggest that India's decision to abstain from RCEP stemmed primarily from a commitment to shield its manufacturing sector. A comprehensive understanding of this situation necessitates an exploration of the challenges faced by Indian manufacturing, not only from China but also from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) route.