Free Trade Agreement

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 ...

FTA with India will boost bilateral trade and investments: Israeli minister

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

Hitting a speed bump: Carmakers raise concerns over EV scheme rules

Automakers told the Heavy Industries Ministry that high investment thresholds, tough localisation rules, and pending India-EU FTA talks are deterring participation in the EV promotion scheme

Preparing the FTA pitch: India, Australia eye full deal amid US tariffs

Three years after India and Australia signed an interim trade deal, the two sides are moving decidedly towards a full-fledged free trade agreement. They have rising US tariffs to contend with

India seeks clarity from EU on carbon tax, steel rules during FTA talks

During week-long India-EU FTA negotiations, New Delhi pressed for predictable implementation of the EU's carbon tax and proposed steel regulation to ensure balanced trade terms