India's decision to opt out of the trade bloc RCEP was strategically sound as the country has the largest trade deficit and trust issues with China, think tank GTRI said on Friday. India's trade deficit with China stood at over USD 85 billion in FY2024. "Had India joined RCEP, the situation could have worsened drastically, as it would face zero-tariff imports from China, risking further imbalance," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. In 2019, India announced that it would not join the China-backed mega free trade agreement -- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as negotiations failed to address New Delhi's outstanding issues and concerns. "India's decision to opt out of the RCEP was strategically sound, as subsequent developments have validated its concerns over potential economic imbalances, which increasingly favours China over other member nations," GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said. The remarks assume significance as Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam