FTA

The government on Thursday nudged the industry to utilise free trade agreements (FTAs), focus on value addition, build resilient supply chains, and actively diversify export markets to boost manufacturing and strengthen the country's position in global trade. All trade agreements which India has signed "is a door, but doors, however magnificently crafted, do not open themselves. It is the industry that must walk through them," said Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Yashvir Singh. He said the industry should use FTAs to expand market access, attract investment and technology, diversify supply chains, and build manufacturing ecosystems that can withstand global shocks. The ambition is not merely to participate in global manufacturing but to make India a reliable, competitive, and trusted partner in global value chains, he said said at a manufacturing conclave. "I place before this audience five imperatives, not suggestions, but strategic obligations. First, invest in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to MSMEs to fully leverage India's growing network of free trade agreements (FTAs) is timely, as these pacts offer small businesses an opportunity to access larger global markets, integrate with global value chains and improve their competitiveness, exporters say. They also said that with preferential market access now available across several major economies, the real opportunity lies in converting these agreements into export orders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, said India has finalised FTAs with about 40 countries since 2014, presenting a tremendous opportunity for the country's MSMEs, and urged small enterprises to tap these opportunities and not let the chance slip away. Addressing the country on the 80th Independence Day, he said there is a need to expand the global reach of Indian products and ensure that goods such as textiles, machinery and medicines find their way into international markets. Welcoming the government's move

Domestic private companies accounted for 86 per cent of investment announcements between April 1 and August 5, while ITES led with Rs 14.98 trillion in proposed capex

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

Commerce minister says export momentum is expected to continue as FTAs take effect, while India remains engaged with the US on the proposed trade pact

From state-level investment reforms and food safety enforcement to next-generation FTAs, corporate living wills and a Tibetan memoir, here are today's top BS Opinion pieces

What matters is whether trade agreements make India a more open economy

India has operationalised its trade pact with the UK, enabling preferential tariffs from day one and flagging off $140 million worth of exports under the new regime

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement is now in force, opening new opportunities for Indian exporters, businesses and professionals.

The India-UK free trade agreement opens market access but does not automatically translate into higher exports, and the country must strengthen standards, certification, logistics and buyer linkages to realise its full benefits, economic think tank GTRI said on Saturday. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will come into force from July 15. "Without parallel work on standards, certification, logistics, regulatory approvals and buyer networks, much of the opportunity will remain on paper. The agreement opens the door; India must now convert access into exports," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. Citing example, GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said while food exporters need better testing, traceability and compliance with UK sanitary and phytosanitary rules;machinery and electronics firms need certification, technology and stronger buyer links. Similarly automobile exporters must meet rules-of-origin and technical requirements; and the garment,

Former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia urged states to liberalise retrenchment norms and cut duties on industrial inputs to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness

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

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

Transformational growth should be the prime focus of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told business leaders at a plenary session in London on Friday. The minister is in the UK on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of both countries for the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which comes into force on July 15. During an interactive event organised by the High Commission of India in London, Goyal heard from members of a Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry-led delegation on the sector-wide opportunities on offer from CETA, such as advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, renewable energy, healthcare and tourism. "Collaborations, cooperations, partnerships will be, in my humble opinion, the right way to come in quickly for both British businesses and Indian businesses," Goyal told the gathering. "It will wedge your way faster; not compulsory, of course, your choice. If you are ...

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Think tank flags non-tariff barriers as a bigger hurdle than duties for $35.8 bn drug exports

India's utilisation of free trade agreement benefits remains low at just 20-30 per cent of eligible exports, compared with 60-70 per cent by the FTA partners, due to high compliance costs and already low tariffs in partner countries, think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. It also said that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have made the inverted duty structure issue harder to fix because many finished goods now enter India at low or zero duty from partners such as ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, the UAE and Australia. As a result, Indian manufacturers often pay high duties on imported inputs, especially those sourced from non-FTA countries, while competing against finished products imported duty-free under FTAs, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. Citing an example, it said steel and aluminium attract MFN (duty applicable for all countries) duties of 7.5-10 per cent, but machinery, industrial equipment and engineering products made from these materials can enter India duty-free under

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said nine recently signed free trade agreements are expected to become operational within 10 months, with several more trade pacts in the pipeline