India, Thailand, 5 others sign maritime pact as Trump tariffs revealed

BIMSTEC ministers discuss transport cooperation, Myanmar quake at Bangkok meeting

Foreign ministers from BIMSTEC nations pose for a picture at the signing ceremony of an agreement on maritime transport cooperation in Bangkok on April 3. © Reuters

KIRAN SHARMA

April 3, 2025 23:36 JST

BANGKOK -- A grouping of India, Thailand, Myanmar and four other Bay of Bengal nations on Thursday inked a maritime transport cooperation agreement that would boost regional connectivity and trade, even as U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new reciprocal tariffs.

The pact was signed as foreign ministers from members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) -- which also comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka -- met in Bangkok.