'There is no compromise in our deals. It's a win-win': Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on trade deals

Q. Do the recent trade agreements with the EU and US signal a fundamental shift in India’s trade policy?

They show that India has emerged out of the shadows. Today, it is a very self-confident country. It engages with the developed nations from a position of strength. Ultimately, free trade agreements are about the future. As India lays down the roadmap for a $30 trillion economy, the delta of opportunity from $4 trillion to $30 trillion is huge and unparalleled. All stars are aligned for this. We have a decisive leadership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading from the front, willing to take risks, making bold reform decisions and transforming the mindset of the nation. We have the demographic dividend of young Indians under 30, which will last us for the next 30 years as we grow to a $30 trillion economy. I call it the power of 30-30-30. A population of 1.4 billion that is aspirational, desires all the good things in life and thus generates huge demand. In every respect, India stands at the threshold of a rapid growth story. And when we engage with partners like the US, EU, UK and others, we are preparing ourselves to engage with the best in terms of quality. We are preparing to leverage the strength of our youth’s talent and skills. We are preparing our women to contribute much more to the formal economy. In effect, we are making inclusive growth and sustainability our mantra during this Amrit Kaal.

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Q. India, like many countries, had protective tariff walls in the past.