Page 7 - Fta

India fails to secure exemption from UK carbon tax in trade deal: GTRI

India was unable to secure an exemption from the UK's carbon tax in the free trade agreement, signed on Thursday, a move that will impact India's carbon-intensive exports to Britain, think tank GTRI said on Friday. The UK government in December 2023 decided to implement its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starting 2027. By not securing a carve-out or exemption clause on CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism), India lost a vital opportunity to protect its carbon-intensive exports, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivastava said. "From January 2027, the UK can impose carbon taxes on Indian steel and aluminum, even as we grant UK goods duty-free access. That's a serious asymmetry. Expect the same treatment in India's trade agreement with the EU," he said. The GTRI in May stated that India's exports worth USD 775 million to the UK may be impacted due to Britain's decision to introduce a carbon tax on products such as iron and steel, aluminium, ...

India-Australia FTA likely in 'very near future', says Australian Trade Min

Australia expects to expand its trade pact with India soon; initial FTA was signed in April 2022, removing tariffs on most goods but excluding key farm products like wheat and dairy

India-UK FTA may restrict India's use of compulsory licensing: GTRI

India has accepted language in the intellectual property chapter of the free trade agreement with the UK that subtly curtails its ability to issue compulsory licences, a critical tool for accessing life-saving technologies during emergencies, think tank GTRI said on Thursday. It also said that India has agreed to "adequate remuneration" norms for compulsory licensing for the pharma sector in the agreement with the UK, thus risking delays in future access to affordable medicines and green tech. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that in "a significant concession, India has accepted language in the Intellectual Property (IP) chapter of the agreement that subtly curtails its ability to issue compulsory licenses (CL), a critical tool for accessing life-saving technologies during emergencies". "For the first time" in any trade agreement, India has explicitly agreed to wording that stresses the need for 'adequate remuneration' to patent holders, GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava

Indo-UK FTA to boost 'Make in India', double trade by 2030: TVS Motor

The signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is poised to open new global frontiers for Indian manufacturing under the Government of India's flagship 'Make in India' initiative, a top official of two and three wheeler maker TVS Motor Company said on Thursday. The FTA is also a significant step forward in realising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. TVS Motor believes the India-UK FTA would create immense opportunities for Indian companies to expand their global footprint while showcasing the country's innovation and engineering excellence on a larger platform. The landmark agreement is expected to double bilateral trade from the USD 60 billion to USD 120 billion by 2030, TVS Motor said. The Chennai-based company's Managing Director Sudarshan Venu in a release here, said, "We are deeply inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat and his unwavering commitment to making India a global manufacturing and design powerhouse." "The ..

India-UK FTA to cut spirit duties, but price drop may be limited: Experts

The India-UK free trade agreement will reduce duties on imported spirits, making premium international options more accessible to Indian consumers, according to industry players, but experts cautioned that the benefits may be limited as the maximum price reduction could be only up to Rs 300 per bottle. As per the FTA signed in London between the two governments, India is reducing duty on UK whisky and gin from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and further to 40 per cent in the tenth year of the deal. "Whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and then dropped even further to 40 per cent over the next ten years - giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market," as per an official statement of the UK government. Reacting to the development, the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI), which represents premium alcoholic beverage companies in India (mostly MNCs)

India, UK sign FTA: What it means and how it will help both countries

India and the UK have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement aiming to boost bilateral trade by nearly $34 billion annually, slash tariffs, and create thousands of jobs in both countries

India-UK FTA: How key sectors will benefit from tariff, policy shifts

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK aims to double trade volume to over $100 billion by 2030

India needs another FTA - Fugitive Transfer Agreement from UK: Cong

The Congress on Thursday took a swipe at the Modi government ahead of the signing of the India-UK free trade agreement, saying what India needs from that country is the announcement of another and more effective FTA - Fugitive Transfer Agreement. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "three stars of the Modi Model of bhagodanomics are still waiting for their ghar wapsi -? Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Lalit Modi.There may well be others too." "The India-UK FTA (Free Trade Agreement) will be signed today in London in the presence of Prime Minister Modi. What India needs from the UK is the announcement of another and more effective FTA (Fugitive Transfer Agreement)," Ramesh said on X. The India-UK FTA, billed as the UK's most economically significant bilateral trade deal since leaving the European Union, will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer. The two prime ministers will also unveil a

FTA, UK-India Vision 2035 mark shift in bilateral ties: Foreign secy Lammy

Besides a "significant and comprehensive" Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to be signed between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer, an ambitious new UK-India Vision 2035 agreement will also be agreed between the leaders on Thursday to mark a "step-change" in bilateral ties for the next decade, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said. In an interview with PTI to coincide with Modi's visit to the UK, the senior UK Cabinet minister said the pact will build on the FTA to unlock new opportunities that strengthen defence cooperation and drive innovation between both economies. Lammy said the UK is thrilled that Prime Minister Modi is visiting to sign the FTA, the most significant bilateral trade deal for Britain since leaving the European Union (EU) and the most comprehensive agreement India has ever signed. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will naturally be a central focus, a testament to the strength of our partnership, said Lammy. It's projected to boost bilateral trade

India, UK likely to sign FTA today; business heavyweights converge

The signing is scheduled to take place at Chequers, the British prime minister's countryside retreat in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire

PM Modi to embark on visit to UK, Maldives from today; what's on agenda

His visit to the UK will primarily focus on the formalisation of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Besides holding wide-ranging talks with Starmer, PM Modi will also be meeting King Charles III

Few tariff exclusions in India-UK free trade agreement, says MEA

Agreeement gets Cabinet approval, likely to be signed on Thursday; highest priority to ensure energy security: Misri

India, Maldives in discussions to negotiate free trade pact: Foreign secy

Addressing a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives, Misri elaborated on the burgeoning economic relationship between the two countries

India, US seek to futureproof trade agreement amid tax and tariff concerns

Starting April 1, India abolished the 6 per cent equalisation levy on online advertising services provided by non-resident entities, also known as Google tax

India, EU resolve digital differences in free trade agreement talks

'Substantial differences' remain over sustainable development chapter

India, Asean expect 'some conclusion' in FTA review by October-end

Both sides are also discussing matters pertaining to technical cooperation, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and technical barriers to trade collaborations

Issuance of preferential certificate under FTAs increases in FY25

Issuance of preferential certificates of origin -- a document enabling exporters to claim tariff benefits under free trade pacts -- by India has risen significantly for various countries, including Korea, Malaysia, and Japan, in 2024-25, indicating increased advantage of such agreements for domestic exporters. The number of preferential certificates of origin issued under free trade agreements implemented so far has recorded a healthy increase, rising to 7,20,914 in 2024-25 from 6,84,724 in 2023-24. The number of preferential certificates of origin issued by India under free trade agreements (FTAs) with Korea and Japan rose to 54,644 and 47,809, respectively, in 2024-25 against 52,158 and 42,306, respectively, in 2023-24, according to the commerce ministry data. India has issued 4,664 such certificates in 2024-25 under the FTA with Malaysia, against 4,370 certificates in 2023-24. Similarly, India has issued 19,267 certificates under the trade pact with Sri Lanka in 2024-25 compared

PM Modi, Malaysia PM discuss Asean-India FTA review at Brics summit

The review of the ASEAN-India FTA figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar bin Ibrahim on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations, including in areas of trade and investment, defence, education, healthcare, tourism and people-to-people contacts, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday after the meeting. Modi congratulated Malaysia for its successful chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia. PM Modi welcomed Malaysia's continued support for a strengthened ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including the early and successful completion of the review of the ASEAN-India FTA, the MEA said. The FTA was signed in 2009 and implemented in January 2010. In August 2023, both sides announced a complete review of the existing agreement in goods by 2025. It is learnt that the

Ball in Washington's court on India-US interim trade pact before July 9

With India setting its red lines on key issues in sectors such as agriculture and dairy for the proposed interim trade agreement with the US, the ball is now in Washington's court to finalise the deal, sources said. They said if issues are settled, an interim trade pact could be announced before July 9, which marks the end of the 90-day suspension period of the Trump tariffs announced on April 2 on dozens of countries, including India. "India has drawn its red lines... now the ball is in the US court," they said. In February, the two countries announced starting negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). They fixed a deadline to conclude the first tranche or phase of the BTA by fall (September-October) this year. Before that, the two sides are locking to finalise an interim trade pact. On April 2, the US imposed an additional 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods but suspended it for 90 days. However, the 10 per cent baseline tariff imposed by America remains in ..

India-EFTA trade pact likely to be implemented in coming months: Goyal

The free trade agreement between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA is likely to come into force in the next couple of months, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. The two sides signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024. Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds at lower or zero duties. "I think it should come into effect, I believe in the next couple of months," Goyal said here at an event of SGS India. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Talking about the government's initiative to promote manufacturing of quality products in the country, Goyal said in the last 10 years, 156 quality control orders (QCOs) covering 672 products have been issued to cut import of sub-standard goods into th