Rajeev Kher

India, being a distant third emitter, has been progressing well in meeting its climate commitments. It is ranked 10th in the Climate Change Performance Index in 2025 (against China's 55th rank)

A 2016 amendment to the BIS Act broadened the government's authority to mandate compliance with compulsory standards

The EU is India's second-largest export market. India exported $70 billion worth of merchandise to the EU in 2023, out of which CBAM-covered commodities were worth $7.3 billion

These "reciprocal" tariffs have created uncertainty and disruption in world trade, violating established norms and principles of international trade

The WTO does not have any specific agreement on environment. However, Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) allows exceptions to free trade with adequate safeguards

The developing world may suffer a double whammy. Advanced nations, such as EU and UK, would be squeezing them by applying stringent sustainability measures having trans-border implications

The climate change is no more an esoteric concept. There is unlikely to be any dilution in emerging international regulations

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is undoubtedly a challenge but worth the effort with a resilient industry and reformative governance to help