Free Trade Agreement

India, US postpone trade deal talks after Donald Trump tariff verdict

Move comes as Washington trying to figure out legalities

FTAs to play significant role in coming years by improving mkt access: RBI

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 ...

India, UK push to operationalise FTA by April, says Commerce Secy

India and the UK are making a "genuine" effort to see if the bilateral free trade agreement can be operationalised in April this year, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday. India and the UK, on July 24, 2025, signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) under which 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while tariffs on British products such as cars and whisky will be reduced in India. The pact needs approval from the UK parliament before it is implemented. In India, the Union Cabinet approves such agreements. After it gets approved by the British parliament, it will be implemented on a mutually agreed date. "I think both sides are working to operationalize it as fast as possible. As some stories have come in the news that it may get operationalized in April, we are making an effort towards that. But I don't know whether that is the date or it will happen beyond that. But we are trying. Our genuine effort on both sides

India Inc's bold investment push crucial for Viksit Bharat: PM Modi

These FTAs are tools to ensure that our youth are not just suppliers to the domestic market but active participants in global trade and growth, says PM Modi

India-UK free trade pact likely to be implemented in April: Report

The India-UK free trade agreement, signed in July last year, is likely to be implemented in April 2026, according to an official. India and the UK, on July 24, 2025, signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) under which 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while tariffs on British products such as cars and whisky will be reduced in India. "We are expecting the pact to be implemented from April this year," the government official said. The two countries have also signed the Double Contributions Convention (DCC) pact to ensure temporary workers would not have to duplicate social levies in either country. The official said that both pacts are likely to be implemented in parallel. The pact needs approval from the UK parliament before it is implemented. In India, the Union cabinet approves such agreements. After it gets approved by the British parliament, it will be implemented on a mutually agreed date. The House of Commons in

Free trade agreement lifts hopes of India-EU organic food traders

Organic food traders from India and the European Union are bullish on the recently announced free trade agreement, saying it will expand market access on both sides and create significant opportunities for the sector. About 2,200 players from the sustainable food sector, including over 100 from India, are exhibiting their products at the four-day BIOFACH 2026, which is the world's leading trade fair for organic food, at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg. The fair comes at an opportune time, with India and the 27-nation European Union announcing the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement on January 27 after nearly two decades of talks. It is likely to be signed and implemented in about a year. According to experts from the organic food sector, the agreement opens up USD 60 billion worth of opportunities for Indian organic product exporters in the EU. The agreement also provides a market of 140 crore consumers to the EU countries. Under the pact, both sides will eliminat

UK touts first mover edge as India FTA debate heats up in Commons

The UK government has highlighted its first mover advantage by signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with a rapidly growing Indian economy ahead of the European Union (EU), which it claimed had used Britain's deal as a "baseline". During a House of Commons debate on the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) earlier this week, the Opposition Conservatives insisted the deal with "one of the largest economies on the planet, which is growing approximately five times faster than the European Union" could have been better. "British businesses needed something with a really good kick in it to get this country growing. Instead of a vindaloo of a deal, the Prime Minister came back with a bag of soggy poppadoms," said Andrew Griffith, shadow business and trade secretary. Chris Bryant, minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), responded on behalf of the Labour government to stress that CETA was a "momentous achievement" which goes "well beyond India'

FTA to give access to European market for Indian auto component firms: Icra

The India-EU deal is expected to reshape competitive dynamics and market access on both sides while providing better access to European markets for Indian auto and component exports, aiding the sector's long-term growth prospects, according to a report by Icra. It is expected to give a boost to premium vehicle imports, but have limited disruption to the mass market, it added. The sharp reduction in duties on EU-made vehicles (completely built units) is expected to drop from as high as 110 per cent to 10 per cent over time for a fixed quota/annum, above an import price of Euro 15,000/vehicle, the report said, adding that this will open India's car market to European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). "Lower tariffs are expected to improve access for European brands like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche, enabling competitive pricing and new growth opportunities in India's fast-expanding auto market," the report pointed out. It, however, said there will be a limited impact on th

India, Gulf Cooperation Council sign terms of reference to begin FTA talks

India and the six-nation bloc of Middle Eastern nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), on Thursday inked terms of reference on Thursday for starting talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal presided over the signing ceremony of the ToRs with GCC. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. Goyal said that the agreement will help boost bilateral trade and investments between the two. He added that about 10 million Indians are living and working in the GCC region. India has already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May 2022. India and Oman also signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Muscat on December 18, 2025. Launch of FTA talks with the GCC would be a kind of resumption of the negotiations, as the earlier two rounds of negotiations were held

India, GCC to sign terms of reference on Feb 5 to launch FTA talks

India and the six-nation bloc of Middle Eastern nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), will ink terms of reference on Thursday for starting talks for a free trade agreement (FTA), an official said. The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will preside over the signing ceremony of the ToRs with GCC. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. India has already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May 2022. India and Oman also signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Muscat on December 18, 2025. Launch of FTA talks with the GCC would be a kind of resumption of the negotiations, as the earlier two rounds of negotiations were held in 2006 and 2008 between the two regions. The third round did not happen as GCC deferred its negotiations with all countries and economic groups. India imports ...

Finalised eight FTAs with 37 developed countries in recent years: Goyal

India has finalised eight free trade agreements (FTAs), covering 37 developed countries in the last few years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. He also said that India is in active dialogue for similar pacts with several countries, including Chile, Peru and Canada. Trade negotiations with Chile, he said, are almost at conclusion, where India has interests in critical minerals. "We've done eight free trade agreements covering 37 developed countries in the last few years under the Modi-government," the minister told PTI. Since 2014, India has finalised eight trade pacts -- Mauritius (April 2021 implemented), Australia (December 2022 implemented), UAE (May 2022 implemented), Oman (signed in December 2025), UK (signed in July 2025), EFTA (implemented in October 2025 - Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), New Zealand (talks concluded in December 2025), and the European Union (27-nation bloc). Goyal added that talks for a trade pact have started with the ..

India-EU FTA: A transformational opportunity for India's textiles

The India-EU FTA grants zero-duty access across the full spectrum of textile and apparel tariff lines, thereby positioning Indian exporters on an equal footing with competitors

With FTA, India's exports to EU can double in 5 years, says Goyal

India's exports to the EU could double to $150 billion within five years of the FTA, says Piyush Goyal, stressing balanced market access while protecting sensitive sectors

India-EU trade deal strengthens PM Modi's 'Make in India' ambitions

The EU deal could also revive appetite from foreign businesses looking to diversify their operations out of China, seeing India as a possible alternative to set up factories for export into Europe

India-EU FTA to help diversify trade, give more mkt to exporters: Moody's

The trade agreement with the European Union (EU) will help India diversify its trade relationships and provide greater market access to its exporters amid growing uncertainty due to high US tariffs, Moody's Ratings has said. The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU was announced on January 27. It is likely to be signed and implemented this year only. "For India, the deal reflects its continued efforts to selectively diversify trade relationships while hedging against trade volatility arising from recent US tariff actions," Moody's said. It said that for the EU, the deal strengthens economic security by widening access to a fast-growing India while reducing vulnerability to disruptions in more concentrated trade relationships. "Although we expect limited near-term credit effects for India, the EU and individual member states, once ratified and implemented the FTA will be credit positive for both sides in raising trade volumes, enhancing the diversification of trade ..

India-EU trade pact: India offers 30% duty reduction on imported wine

Sula Vineyards sees limited impact only on premium range, lauds trade pact

India-EU free trade pact set to redraw growth map for Indian CDMOs

India-EU FTA could transform India's CDMO sector by cutting pharma tariffs, easing regulations and deepening Indian integration into Europe's drug supply chains

Now, for an investment protection guarantee to signal India is serious

It will signal to the world that India is serious about being open for business

Creating employment: India-EU FTA can increase labour-intensive exports

The India-EU FTA offers major export and job gains for labour-intensive MSME sectors, but success will hinge on meeting EU standards and easing logistics bottlenecks

Taking the FTA agenda forward in 2026: A strategic roadmap for India

Moving ahead with participation in next-generation FTAs, supplemented by substantive domestic trade policy reforms, must be India's focus