Free Trade Agreement

India to get access to EU market for over 99% of exports under FTA: Goyal

India will get an "unprecedented" market access at concessional duties for over 99 per cent of its exports by value in the European Union (EU) market, providing a boost to domestic labour-intensive sectors, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. The two sides announced on January 27 the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA). "India and the EU, under the leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, European Commission President @VonderLeyen and European Council President @AntonioCostapm have inked the 'Mother of all Trade Deals'," he said in a social media post. Goyal said that the pact is a strategic breakthrough in the country's global trade engagement, unlocking vast opportunities in the USD 20 trillion EU market for 1.4 billion people. "It is a deal that gives unprecedented market access for over 99 per cent of our exports by value, providing a massive impetus to our labour-intensive sectors and bolstering Make In India," the minister said. T

Two decades in the making, India and EU reach deal opening up markets

Deal provides phased tariff liberalisation on over 97% of goods, safeguards sensitive sectors and boosts labour-intensive exports

India, EU conclude 'mother of all' trade deals, says Ursula von der Leyen

India and Europe have concluded the "mother of all" trade deals, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership held summit talks to elevate the two-way ties to jointly navigate geopolitical turbulence and trade disruptions. Prime Minister Modi hosted von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at the summit. "Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit," Von der Leyen said. "This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger," she said. The two EU leaders graced the 77th Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path as chief guests on Monday. The long-awaited free trade agreement is expected to significantly expand the overall trajectory of two-way engagement as it will open up new opportunities for cooperation in diverse .

India-EU FTA to be a 'living agreement' with multiple review mechanisms

Deal aims to boost trade diversification, labour-intensive exports and services while safeguarding sensitivities on both sides

India, EU likely to seal long-pending free trade pact at summit on Jan 27

At the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, von der Leyen signalled progress, stating the European Union is close to concluding the agreement but acknowledged that additional work remains

India and EU will have the 'mother of all deals', says Piyush Goyal

Goyal said there would be no compromise on the country's interests and that all sensitive issues, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and dairy, would be addressed to India's satisfaction

Datanomics: Ties with Germany to power India-EU relations ahead

The visit is significant in the wake of ongoing discussions to finalize the India-European Union FTA

Signing free-trade deals is not enough to secure real economic gains

FTAs can open doors, but real gains will depend on domestic factors

FTA: India, EU should find convergence on sustainability chapter, NTBs

The two sides need to move little beyond their defined negotiating stance on investment treaty, subjects like agriculture, digital trade, IPR and ensure conclusion of the much awaited trade agreement

Cloudy skies over US-EU trade deals: India prepares for headwinds

Amid political turmoil in the US and EU, India's hopes of quick trade deals face growing uncertainty, calling for realism and preparation for worst-case scenarios

Mehbooba urges Centre to shield Kashmir apple growers from FTAs abroad

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday opposed any free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union and the US, saying a similar deal with New Zealand had hurt the apple growers of Kashmir by exposing them to "unfair imports". Expressing concern that apple import duties may be diluted, she said flooding markets with imported apples risks destroying Jammu and Kashmir's horticulture backbone. She called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the issue with the Centre to protect the fruit growers of the Valley. "Deeply concerned that apple import duties may be diluted in FTAs with Europe, the US and Chile, repeating the damage done by the India-New Zealand FTA. A 25 per cent duty cut has already hurt Kashmir's apple growers, exposing them to unfair imports," Mehbooba said in a post on X. The PDP president said that flooding the markets with imports "risks destroying Jammu and Kashmir's horticulture backbone that sustains 15 lakh families". "This is not just about fruit but

India offers higher FDI, easier bank branch norms under New Zealand FTA

Under the India-New Zealand FTA's Financial Services Annex, India has offered higher FDI limits in banking and insurance and a simpler licensing regime for foreign bank branches

India-New Zealand FTA to help boost exports, attract investment: Experts

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

Best of BS Opinion: India must learn from China, support new entrants

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at India's evolving trade strategy, rising tensions with Bangladesh, lessons from China's manufacturing boom, food loss challenges, and the impact of digital platforms

0% duty on 100% exports: India secures trade deal with New Zealand

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

More ambition needed: New FTAs welcome, but bigger targets lie ahead

An FTA has also been agreed upon with the United Kingdom (UK), which means that India now has formal trade pacts with three of the five Anglosphere economies

Piyush Goyal to make final push for India-EU discussions in new year

Government officials said that India and the EU are continuing to engage with each other to narrow the differences and close the free trade agreement (FTA) talks at the earliest

India-US framework trade deal soon: Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal

Having missed the 'fall' deadline, India is aiming to conclude the first tranche of the trade deal before the end of the calendar year

India negotiating FTAs with US, EU and 50 partners to boost trade: Goyal

India is at present negotiating free trade agreements with a number of trading partners, including the US and European Union, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. India is working with its 'trusted' trading partners through these agreements to boost economic ties, he said. "We have all seen trade being weaponised. We have all seen the importance of having trusted partners around the world," he said, adding that at this moment, India is in talks with individual countries and groups of nations totalling about 50. The remarks come at a time when a steep hike in tariffs by the US has disrupted global trade. The Donald Trump administration has imposed a 50 per cent import duty on Indian goods entering American markets since August 27. The minister informed that GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) too is interested in trade pact talks. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. New Delhi has already implemen

India, Canada agree to resume FTA negotiations, says Piyush Goyal

India and Canada have agreed to resume negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with an aim to increase the two-way trade to USD 50 billion by 2030, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. A FTA or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has many strategic elements to it and it is a demonstration of the trust between the two countries, Goyal said here at an event on Monday. The pact would give confidence to investors, businesses of both sides, he said. "We have agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition CEPA and double the trade between the two nations by 2030," he said, adding the two countries are natural allies and do not compete with each other. The strengths of India and Canada can become a force multiplier for businesses and investors, Goyal said. "There is a lot that we can learn from Canada and a lot we can offer Canada. There is a lot of potential on critical minerals, critical minerals processing technologies. There is a good ...