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Countries negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) need to keep in mind eight "myths" which surround these pacts, like they lead to accelerated increase in exports and promote domestic manufacturing, according to a report by think-tank GTRI. The report by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) claims to dispel these 'myths', including that FTAs weaken the WTO (World Trade Organisation), countries are rushing to do FTAs, and these pacts promote investment and lower prices. It is "erroneously" believed that most world trade happens through the FTA route, but in reality, it is less than 20 per cent, said the report titled 'FTAs: Fabulous, Futile, or Flawed?'. It is also not true that countries world over are rushing to do FTAs and in fact these pacts are "enthusiastically" embraced mainly by east Asian economies or countries that have lowered their customs duties close to zero. "Major industrial countries/regions do FTAs selectively. The USA has no FTA with significant economies like
The country's musical instruments exports have increased to Rs 172 crore during April-September this fiscal against Rs 49 crore in the same period of 2013-14. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet that the exports have risen to more than 3.5 times in the first six months of the current fiscal. "India's exports of musical instruments rose to more than 3.5 times in April-September 2022, as compared to the same period in 2013," Goyal said. On the jump in exports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the growth is encouraging. "With Indian music gaining popularity worldwide, there is a great opportunity to further grow in this sector," Modi tweeted.