"Under PM Modi, India Has Revived Quad," Says Australian Diplomat: Report

The Australian PM's Special Trade Envoy Tony Abbott said that with the world's other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it's in everyone's interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.

Trade deals are about politics as much as economics, a swift deal between India and Australia would be an important sign of the democratic world's tilt away from China, said Australian Prime Minister's Special Trade Envoy Tony Abbott. In an article published in The Australian newspaper, Abbott said: "Trade deals are about politics as much as economics, a swift deal between India and Australia would be an important sign of democratic world's tilt away from China, as well as boosting the long-term prosperity of both our countries." Abbott further said that India is currently its seventh-biggest trade partner with annual two-way trade of about 30 billion dollars, despite being hampered by tariffs and mutual perceptions that neither country is always a good place to do business. Both countries are now boosting their negotiating teams with a view to having an "early harvest" trade agreement at least by the end of the year, as a big step towards a much deeper partnership. He added that with the world's other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it's in everyone's interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.