Page 2 - Fta

Trade priorities: Govt must help exporters maximise gains from UK, EU FTAs

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

FTAs boost global demand for Indian talent, expand mobility options

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

Complementarity sans capability: Limits of India's trade strategy

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

Champagne decants into India's smaller cities, widening its market base

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

Australia, EU sign free trade pact after eight years of negotiations

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

Vishwaguru delusion, mine vs yours: Two flawed takes on India's power

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

India-UK FTA likely to be implemented by early May; EU by year-end

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 seeks duty concessions to sell goods from SEZs to domestic mkt

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

India-UK free trade agreement to come into force in a month: Piyush Goyal

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

PM urges industry to boost investment, prioritise R&D, quality to tap FTAs

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 ...

Modi-Carney meet on Monday to see launch of free trade agreement talks

Signing of 10-year uranium supply pact also on agenda

India, EU free trade agreement includes model mediation procedures

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 ...

Govt will fund major EU compliance costs for SMEs, says Piyush Goyal

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

Finalised trade pacts will be operational this year, says Piyush Goyal

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

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 ...

Partnered prosperity in a Globalist Gambit: Mapping India's trade ascent

The past months have witnessed trade deals with economic giants augmenting investor-friendly confidence in India's global trade agenda

India sheds defensive stance, negotiates future-focused trade deals: Goyal

Piyush Goyal says India has moved beyond apologetic trade talks, using FTAs as strategic tools to secure long-term economic gains while protecting sensitive sectors

Nissan targets 100k exports in FY27 as part of renewed India growth plan

Nissan aims for 100,000 exports and 100,000 domestic sales in FY27 as it launches three new locally built models and leverages India's FTAs to strengthen its global supply base

India-EU trade pact moves from promise to reality but challenges persist

India-EU FTA signals a strategic shift toward export-led growth, but without deeper trade, tariff and investment reforms, its full economic potential may remain unrealised

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