Free Trade Agreement

The New Zealand deal comes as India accelerates negotiations with several trading partners to expand market access for its exporters and strengthen supply chains

India has reviewed the negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as the country's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, held wide-ranging talks with the secretary general of the six-nation bloc, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, in Riyadh. The meeting took place on Sunday, where both sides discussed ways to strengthen India-GCC relations, exchanged views on regional and international developments, and reviewed preparations for a ministerial meeting scheduled next month, the GCC Secretariat said in a statement. The meeting assumes significance as India and the GCC resumed negotiations in February for a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment, even though the talks were temporarily stalled in June because of the West Asia crisis. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and was established in 1981 as a political, economic and security grouping. During Sunday's meeting, In

India is in negotiations with at least 8-9 more groups of countries and individual nations that together account for another USD 15 trillion of GDP, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. He added that the country's free trade agreements would eventually cover about 75 per cent of global trade and help position India as a trusted partner in global value chains. India has a large domestic market and it opens its doors to the world with nine free trade agreements signed in the last four years, he said here while addressing business representatives from India and Japan. These nine agreements cover economies with a combined GDP of USD 60 trillion and 38 developed countries. The earlier trade pacts with countries, including Japan and Korea , and the Asean region have opened another USD 10 trillion of GDP. "So today India opens up the doors to preferential market access to USD 70 trillion of economy. We are in negotiations with at least 8 or 9 other groups of count

The Prime Minister also called for chemical-free farming and said the government had absorbed higher global fertiliser costs to keep urea and DAP affordable for farmers

Indian exporters seeking sustained growth need to adopt an integrated strategy that combines intellectual property (IP) protection, effective utilisation of free trade agreements, customs documentation, regulatory compliance, and supply chain controls, according to a report. As Indian companies expand into overseas markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, IP is no longer only a legal concern; it is increasingly a business asset that influences market access, valuation, partnerships, and long-term competitiveness. For exporters, the most valuable assets should not be limited to factories or inventories alone, said the joint report by Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and RNA Technology and IP Attorneys. "For Indian exporters, international growth requires an integrated operating discipline in which IP protection, FTA utilisation, customs documentation, regulatory compliance, supply-chain controls, and contractual safeguar

Without credible investment protection, the FTA alone is unlikely to attract the manufacturing FDI India needs to create jobs

India and the European Union (EU) have agreed to ink the free trade agreement by the end of this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Addressing the India-Finland Business Round Table in Helsinki, he said the pact will come into force in the first quarter of 2027. "The 27-nation EU-India free trade agreement ...in the course of my meetings in Brussels yesterday, we have agreed to sign before the end of calendar 2026, the final legal document and bring into effect in the first quarter of 2027, sometime in February-March next year," he said. He added that the deal will open a plethora of opportunities for businesses on both sides. On January 27 this year, India and the European Union (EU) announced the conclusion of negotiations for the 'mother of all deals'. Under the pact, 93 per cent of Indian shipments will enjoy duty-free access to the 27-nation bloc, while the import of luxury cars and wines from the EU will become less expensive. The deal, conc

Fully engaged with Washington for a balanced deal, says Piyush Goyal

India and the UK's trade deal comes into force on July 15, lowering import duties on many Indian exports and offering social security relief for professionals

India and Asean have asked negotiators to expedite the review of their free trade agreement after missing the 2025 deadline, with talks focused on resolving pending chapters

The Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) finalised by India will create significant opportunities for the leather goods and footwear sector, helping boost exports to USD 14 billion by 2030, CLE has said. Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Chairman Ramesh Kumar Juneja said that they are eagerly waiting for a trade pact with the US, as it is India's largest export destination. A successful conclusion of India-US agreement will secure preferential access for the sector over competing nations, he said. The FTAs with regions such as the European Union, UK, New Zealand will define the next chapter of growth for the industry, he said. "Our industry aims to make optimum use of these emerging opportunities and reach an export target of USD 14 billion by 2030, as part of an overall industry turnover target of USD 50 billion," Juneja said. He added that trade agreements with UAE, Oman, Mauritius, Australia, EFTA with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein have all aided the domestic exporters.

A clear security doctrine is needed to ensure economic tools do not harm both the user and the target

Piyush Goyal says the Trade and Technology Council dialogue will complement the recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement, while India aims to conclude the Canada FTA within six months

The finance ministry has notified rules for determining the origin of goods under the India-UK trade pact, clearing the way for the agreement's implementation from July 15

India exported goods worth $1.4 billion to Peru during the last financial year, while imports stood at $8.87 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $7.47 billion

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the India-EU free trade agreement is on track for signing by December-end, while reiterating India's demand for a competitive edge in the interim US trade deal

New Delhi expects bilateral negotiations with Qatar and Bahrain to move faster than GCC-wide talks, while also preparing to revive trade negotiations with Israel

EU Ambassador Herve Delphin says legal vetting of the India-EU trade pact is nearing completion, with signing expected by year-end and implementation likely in early 2027

Why is India considering a sunset clause in its proposed US trade deal? Here's what the provision means and how it could help New Delhi navigate tariff uncertainty

Alongside the trade pact, the Double Contribution Convention will also take effect, easing social security obligations for temporary cross-border workers