FTA

The commerce ministry is preparing granular plans to boost the utilisation of free trade agreements (FTAs) by Indian industry, including sending 500 delegations abroad, training 1,000 people, and engaging with 1,600 industry chambers, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. The commerce and industry minister asked the Indian industry to increase utilisation of these pacts as it will help boost exports and attract investments at a time when the global economy is facing challenges. "We are making very granular plans on how we can leverage all these FTAs and convert the global crisis into a golden opportunity," he said at the CII annual business summit here. Since 2021, India has finalised trade deals with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, Oman, New Zealand, EFTA bloc, UK and the EU. Goyal said that countries such as Switzerland, the United States and nations in the European Union have much higher per capita incomes and cannot manufacture products at a cost lower than India. The ..

DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said the government is ready to roll out a broader "Made in India" branding framework after a successful pilot in steel

The Indian industry needs to leverage and utilise the free trade agreements (FTAs) that India is finalising, as they provide huge opportunities for both trade and investments, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday. The secretary said that the track record of the country fully utilising and leveraging FTAs is "not great". He also said that the country's industrial policy should complement its trade policy, as trade is also a function of how India invests and produces. "...FTA utilization is something we are questioned again and again. What is the benefit that FTAs are actually leading to?," he said here while addressing a session on free trade agreements. India has implemented trade pacts with a number of countries and groupings including Singapore, Japan, Korea and Asean. Agrawal said these pacts have led to increase in bilateral trade, but India's exports have grown at a slower pace than imports. Talking about the trade pacts with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the EU

With India signing a series of free trade agreements with developed countries, the government is working on an FTA utilisation plan to help maximise benefits from these pacts, an official said. Since 2021, India has finalised free trade agreements (FTAs) with Mauritius, Australia, the UAE, Oman, New Zealand, the EFTA (European Free Trade Association), the European Union (EU), the UK and US. These pacts cover 38 countries whose combined global imports stand at about USD 12 trillion. The main Indian sectors that have received duty-free market access in these FTA partner countries include agriculture, textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, leather and leather goods, engineering, electronics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has held a series of meetings with industry associations, businesses and export promotion councils (EPCs) on ways to increase utilisation of these agreements. He suggested that businesses leverage these pacts to boost .

Early implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA), signed in December 2025 is likely to figure in the meeting of India and Oman on May 11 here, an official said. The agreement will provide duty-free access to 98 per cent of India's exports, including textiles, agri, and leather goods in Oman. On the other hand, India will reduce tariffs on Omanese products such as dates, marbles and petrochemical items. "Oman team is visiting here on May 11. India will try to push for early implementation of the FTA," the official said. Oman is an important strategic partner of Indian in the Middle East region and is a key gateway for Indian goods and services to the wider Middle East and Africa. Nearly 7 lakh Indian nationals reside in Oman. India receives about USD 2 billion remittances from Oman annually. This is the second trade deal of India with a GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member. India in May 2022 implemented a similar pact with the UAE and it is expected to soon start talks with

With the US, while negotiations have restarted, there are several factors that will continue to cast a shadow of uncertainty on outcomes

Mobility provisions in India's trade deals are opening new visa pathways for skilled workers, as countries across Europe, Asia and Oceania seek Indian talent to address labour shortages

India's trade pacts with developed economies highlight a gap: without stronger domestic capabilities, complementarity alone cannot deliver balanced gains

After a metro-heavy start, demand settles and spreads into new markets like Guwahati, Lucknow

The deal follows intensified talks amid sharply higher US tariffs under the Trump administration and growing Western concerns over China's dominant position in rare earths and other critical minerals

One side thinks India is punching way above its weight.The other thinks Mr Modi has undermined India, and it punches below its strength. Both are wrong

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, signed in July last year, is likely to be implemented by early May, as both sides are "sorting out a few issues", officials said on Thursday. According to officials, the EU has indicated November as the timeline for the ratification of the trade pact with India, and its implementation is expected this year. However, they indicated that trade pact talks with Israel and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, have slowed amid the ongoing conflict in the region. On the US-India trade pact, officials said the process of the trade agreement "stands"; however, "any trade agreement is based on preferential market access versus competitors. If we get that, then the trade deal stands". On January 27 this year, India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement, described as 'mother of all deals', under which 93 per cent of Ind

Industry bodies have urged the government to allow SEZ units to sell goods in the domestic market at zero or concessional duties similar to FTA imports to remove disadvantages and boost manufacturing

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the India-UK free trade agreement will come into force in about a month and will be the fastest trade pact approved by the UK Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged industry leaders to step up investments, embrace emerging technologies and prioritise research to help India Inc fully leverage the vast opportunities offered by free trade agreements with various nations. "The days of cutting corners in research are over. We must now make substantial investments in research and development and ensure that our products meet global quality standards. Now we have got opportunities to move forward, so we should have only one mantra - Quality, Quality, Quality," he said while addressing a second webinar on Budget 2026-27. Stressing that India has entered into free trade agreements with numerous countries, he said, these agreements have opened up a wide range of opportunities for the country. "In such a situation, he said, "our responsibility is that we should never compromise on quality." Today, the world is seeking reliable and resilient manufacturing partners, he said, adding that India has a strong ...

Signing of 10-year uranium supply pact also on agenda

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU has included an annexure for mediation for a mutually-agreed solution to a dispute through an expeditious procedure with the assistance of a mediator. According to the text of the FTA, an annexure on 'model mediation procedures' has been included in the agreement, the conclusion of which was announced on January 27. The pact is expected to be signed after legal scrubbing. It may be implemented next year. These FTA texts may undergo further modifications as a result of the process of legal revision/ scrub. The texts will be final upon signing. "A Party (India or EU) may at any time request to enter into a mediation procedure with respect to any measure by a Party alleged to adversely affect trade between the Parties," the text said, adding that the request shall be sufficiently detailed to present the concerns of the requesting side clearly and shall identify the specific measure at issue; and the adverse effects that the ...

Piyush Goyal says the government will fund key compliance costs for small exporters needing EU approvals under CBAM and REACH, as India expands trade deals and targets $2 trn exports

Piyush Goyal said FTAs with the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the EU will be implemented this year as India launches new schemes under the Rs 25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission to boost exports

The completion of the India-EU free trade negotiations and the interim trade pact between India and the US are likely to play a significant role in the coming years by improving market access and enhancing export competitiveness, the RBI's bulletin issued on Friday said. An article on the 'State of the Economy' published in the February bulletin also said that the near-term economic outlook for the economy remains favourable and is well-positioned to sustain its high growth momentum, driven by consumption, investment, and productivity-enhancing reforms. The completion of the India-EU free trade negotiations by the end of January and the subsequent interim trade agreement between India and the US are likely to play a significant role in the coming years by improving market access, enhancing export competitiveness, and integrating Indian firms more deeply into global value chains, it said. "In the immediate term, it has led to a change in investor sentiments. Foreign portfolio ...