Australia has signed off on a major free-trade deal involving 15 nations from the Asia-Pacific region.

India is the one nation that didn’t join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), although its inclusion would have made it the biggest free-trade deal in the world.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham tells Luke Grant they are disappointed India didn’t join.

“Bigger would have been better, we would have liked India to keep up pace with everybody else.

“They’ve said it’s not the time for them to sign at present and we accept that decision.”

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Image: Getty/Tracey Nearmy