IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 11 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 146 www.irjmsh.com India’s Tea and Coffee Exports performance: under the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement Subhash Jagdambe PhD Research Scholar, ADRTC, ISEC, Bangalore-560072, India. Email: jagdambe@isec.ac.in Narayan Gore Assistant Professor, New Arts, Commerce and Science College, Shevgaon, Ahmednagar, Maharshtra, India. Email: ngore98@gmail.com Abstract The paper attempts to assess India‟s growth rate in terms of value and quantity as well as Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) for tea and coffee exports with respect to Association of South- East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The study consists the period from 2001 to 2012. Data on export of agricultural products were compiled from International Trade Centre (ITC) and quantity data sourced from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Database. The study found that positive and significant growth rate in terms of value of tea exports. In contrast, in case of coffee export it found positive and significant in terms of quantity. Moving on competitiveness, it found stagnant comparative advantage in export of tea and in case of coffee export it found comparative disadvantage most of the year consideration. However, study indicates that, India needs to improve its quality of products to compete on the international platform. As well as, the result of study would direct to take some policy initiative to promote tea and coffee export into ASEAN market as well as in world market. The study would also help to exporter to select appropriate market for tea and coffee exports. Key words: Compound Growth Rate, Revealed Comparative Advantage, FTA, ASEAN. INTRODUCTION The ASEAN- India free trade agreement (AIFTA) could be considered as a part of India‟s engagement with ASEAN countries; however which has started with its „ Look East Policy‟ in the early 1990 s but it actually came into existence after AIFTA came into force on January 1 st , 2010. The prime aim of signing the AIFTA was to strengthen the economic ties as well as too improved political and security linkages among the members. The AIFTA considered the world largest free trade agreement (FTA) in terms of covering population around 1.8 billion with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.3 trillion. India and ASEAN as a blocs extended special and differential trade treatment on reciprocal basis depending upon their level of development to improve their market access. The tariffs would be eliminated on 80% of the tariff lines accounting for 75% of the trade in a gradual manner starting from 1 st January 2010. The AIFTA agreement also commits to exclude some domestically sensitive items from the tariff reduction or elimination. India has excluded 489 items (6 digit level) on which India would not