Free Trade Agreements

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal says binding FTA commitments on professional services can open global opportunities, as India focuses on skills, mobility and digital delivery

If utilised well, the India-New Zealand FTA will strengthen trade, investments and economic relations between the two countries

Legally binding commitments on professional services such as chartered accountants, doctors and architects under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by India will help open up overseas opportunities for these professionals, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has said. He has stated that India's demographic dividend offers immense potential to meet the rising global demand for professional services. To tap into this potential, Agrawal said, it is critical to adopt global best practices and equip professionals with upgraded skills aligned with evolving global market needs and technological developments. He also encouraged professional bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to organise and participate in international conferences to enable knowledge sharing and provide platforms for enhanced collaboration. The secretary said this while addressing a brainstorming session on 'Expanding Global Horizons: Opportunities for Indian Professionals' on Decembe

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand will help diversify exports, and attract investments in areas like agriculture, experts said. The conclusion of negotiations for the pact was announced on December 22. It is likely to be signed and implemented next year. India and New Zealand on Monday said they have concluded talks on a free trade deal that will give India tariff-free access to the island nation's markets, bring in USD 20 billion of investment over the next 15 years and help double bilateral trade in goods and services the next five years to USD 5 billion. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President S C Ralhan said upon entry into force, the free trade agreement (FTA) will provide zero-duty access on 100 per cent of India's exports, with tariff elimination across all tariff lines or product categories. "It will enhance the competitiveness of Indian products in the New Zealand market and provide a major boost to employment-generating sector

Wellington commits to $20 bn FDI in 15 years; dairy items excluded

India and New Zealand have concluded a Free Trade Agreement after nine months of talks; the deal cuts tariffs, boosts trade, opens jobs and creates new visa routes for Indian professionals

India and Oman will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday in Muscat with an aim to boost economic ties between the two countries, an official said. It will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a four-day, three-nation visit. He arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday from Jordan and will depart for Oman from Addis Ababa. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reached Muscat for the FTA signing. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal too will reach Oman, the official said. Talks for the free trade agreement, officially termed as CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), formally began in November 2023 and the negotiations concluded this year. In free trade agreements, the two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments. Oman is the third-largest export destination for India among the Gulf ...

India and the UAE have discussed issues related to market access, data sharing, allocation of gold import quota, and anti-dumping matters, services to boost economic ties, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. These issues were discussed during a meeting of the Joint Committee under the India-UAE CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement). CEPA is a kind of free trade agreement (FTA). "The two sides conducted a comprehensive review of progress under CEPA and detailed discussions were held on market access issues, data sharing, allocation of Gold TRQ (tariff rate quota), anti-dumping matters, services, Rules of Origin, BIS licensing," it said. The India side also briefed the UAE on its recent decision to allocate Gold TRQ through a transparent competitive bidding process. The two sides also deliberated upon enhancing regulatory cooperation in pharmaceuticals, resolution of issues related to Certificates of Origin, and early signing of the MoU on Food Safety and Technical

A proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between Israel and India will open up significant business opportunities for industries in both countries and boost bilateral trade and investment flows, Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat said. He said that the two countries have signed terms of references (ToRs) on November 20 here to start negotiations for the agreement. Barkat said that both counties have decided not to include sensitive areas in the FTA negotiations. "Huge opportunities are there to boost trade and investments between the two countries. We are going to see huge growth in business," Barkat told PTI. He added that a lot of Israeli companies are interested in opening up subsidiaries in India, which can act as a gateway to Asia for them. "People are now understanding that there are big opportunities (in India) because India's tomorrow is not the India of yesterday," he said, adding India is well positioned to compete with China. The elements of ToRs include mar

The next round of negotiations between India and Chile on the proposed free trade agreement is expected to be held in December here, an official said. The pact with the the South American nation may help India access critical minerals, which are key inputs for electronics, auto, and solar sectors. India and Chile concluded the third round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Santiago. The four-day talks concluded on October 30. India is seeking preferential treatment for critical minerals in Chile under the pact. India's growing trade engagement with Chile reflects its strategic focus on building stronger partnerships with the Latin American region through mutually beneficial and comprehensive economic cooperation frameworks, the official said. India and Chile implemented a preferential trade agreement (PTA) in 2006 and are now negotiating to widen its scope for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. CEPA aims to build upon the exis

With high levels of saturation, India is now looking to convert the interim deal into a comprehensive trade agreement that will include new-age trade issues left out in the first round

With tariff cuts under the UK-India FTA, spirit producers expect faster growth, price access, and stiffer competition in premium whisky

The proposed free trade agreement between India and New Zealand is expected to enhance trade flows, deepen investment linkages and strengthen supply-chain resilience, the commerce ministry said on Saturday. It may also provide greater predictability and market access for businesses in both countries, it said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was here to give an impetus to the trade pact negotiations with his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay. The fourth round of negotiations on the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) concluded on November 7, in Auckland and Rotorua. The ministers "acknowledged the steady progress made during this round and reaffirmed their commitment to work towards a modern, comprehensive, and future-ready FTA," it said. Both delegations held detailed engagements across key tracks, including trade in goods, trade in services, economic and trade cooperation, and rules of origin. "The ongoing discussions reflect the shared resolve of both nat

Piyush Goyal made these remarks while speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, adding that New Delhi would take a measured approach

India and Brazil plan to broaden their preferential trade agreement under the Mercosur framework, eyeing $20 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and new digital cooperation

The free trade agreement between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA will come into force from Wednesday under which New Delhi has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products such as Swiss watches, chocolates and cut and polished diamonds at lower or zero duties. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It was signed on March 10, 2024. Domestic customers will get access to high-quality Swiss products such as watches, chocolates, biscuits, and clocks at lower prices as India will phase out customs duties under the trade pact on these goods over 10 years. The bloc committed an investment of USD 100 billion -- USD 50 billion within 10 years after the implementation of the agreement and another USD 50 billion in the next five years - which would facilitate the creation of one million direct jobs in India. This is a first-of-its-kind pledge agree

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani has met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here and expressed Rome's commitment to the finalisation of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. Antonio Tajani in a post on X on Thursday described the meeting as "important" and said he would be visiting India in the coming months. "In New York, I also had important meetings with the Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar and the Commerce Minister @PiyushGoyal," said Tajani. "Italy and India share a strategic political and economic partnership that we intend to strengthen with my further visit to India in the coming months," he added. Stating that India is a priority country, he said, "...for this reason I wanted the 'India' measure of 500 million euros to support our exporting companies". "I confirmed Italy's support for a rapid finalisation of the Free Trade Agreement," he .

The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has opened an inquiry this week into the impacts and implications of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Britain in July. The cross-party panel, which includes British Indian Conservative peer Baroness Sandy Verma, is seeking evidence from experts and stakeholders as part of the parliamentary process before the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) can come into effect. With a target to double bilateral trade to USD 120 billion by 2030, the CETA has been pitched by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer-led government as a landmark agreement" that will increase trade by 25.5 billion pounds and UK GDP by 4.8 billion pounds annually in the long run. As we undertake a new programme of evidence gathering, covering the terms of the FTA, its potential benefits and disadvantages, and provisions for key UK sectors, among other issues, we encourage anyone with experience

Piyush Goyal said India and the US remain in talks for a trade deal despite tariff frictions, even as India advances free trade agreements with the EU and other partners

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu here on Sunday and called for deepening bilateral ties with effective implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit being held here on Sunday. The Maldives is a Dialogue Partner of the 10-member SCO bloc. Xi told Muizzu that the two countries have achieved positive progress in advancing Belt and Road cooperation, and China will continue to deepen practical cooperation with the Maldives to ensure the effective implementation of the China-Maldives FTA. Both countries should advance cooperation in areas including fisheries, marine scientific research, environmental protection, as well as disaster prevention and reduction, he said. For his part, Muizzu said the Maldives is willing to work with China to expand cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, housing construction and tourism, and to strengthen coordination and .