India aims to revive trade talks

India's offer on tariffs has been rejected by Malaysia

India has offered new concessions in an effort to kick-start talks concerning free trade in south-east Asia.

It has cut the number of items it wants to keep tariffs on from 850 to 560, in talks between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

India had originally asked for more than 1,000 items - including rice and petroleum products - to be excluded.

Most Asean officials have said they need time to consider the offer, but Malaysia has rejected the proposal.

India's representative at the talks, Gopal K Pillai, explained that its latest offer on tariffs covered just 6% of Asean exports.

He added that the list - which covers mainly agricultural and marine goods - would also be reviewed after five years.

India also offered to cut its tariff on palm oil to 50% from 80%.

However, Malaysian trade minister Rafidah Aziz rebuffed the plan, saying she would only return to the negotiating table when India had cut back its exclusion list to a "manageable figure".

Malaysia, which along with Indonesia supplies around 70% of India's edible oil, had wanted India to offer bigger reductions on its palm oil tariffs.