India Trade Policy

Brics and beyond

The New Delhi Declaration is impressive but requires immediate follow-up action from India on its trade policies and WTO reform

India's rising market power reshapes global debate over its trade policies

As India's economic weight and import demand rise, WTO members are increasingly scrutinising how its tariffs, export curbs, QCOs and domestic regulations affect global markets

India, Nepal discuss ways to facilitate legitimate trade and transit

The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held here on September 16-17, 2026

Open up for business

India must address trade barriers

US, EU strongly criticise India's tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers

Raise concerns over high tariffs, QCOs, digital trade curbs

Commerce ministry meeting industry, exporters on India-US trade on Sept 1

The Commerce Ministry will meet with industry associations and representatives of export promotion councils on September 1 on India-US trade performance, an official said. The meeting will be chaired by Additional Secretary in the ministry Darpan Jain. He is also the country's chief negotiator for the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA). The deliberation is important as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the US in late September to attend the G-20 Trade Ministerial in Milwaukee and hold bilateral talks with USTR Jamieson Greer. The two-day ministerial will begin on September 30. The United States holds the 2026 G20 presidency. The official said the meeting is intended to discuss recent trade trends, the overall sector-wise performance of India-US trade, and the recent developments in bilateral trade. Sectors expected to be represented at the meeting include pharmaceuticals, engineering, textiles, agriculture, chemicals, marine products, leather, automobiles

Trade policy review at WTO: World takes note of India's progress

India's eighth WTO Trade Policy Review highlights its growing global trade footprint, digital transformation and FTA push while balancing openness with domestic development priorities

India invites applications for car import quota under India-UK trade pact

India on Monday invited the first round of applications for the allocation of 2026 import quotas for fully-built passenger cars and goods vehicles under the duty concession provisions of the India-UK free trade agreement. Under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into effect from July 15, New Delhi has allowed the import of a total of 3.78 lakh units of conventional-engine passenger cars, including those in the mass segment, from the UK at a concessional customs duty during the first 15 years of the implementation of the trade pact between the two countries. Under the pact, tariffs on automotive imports will fall from about 110 per cent to 10 per cent, with quotas on both sides. Importers seeking to import vehicles from the UK under the quota-based duty concessions (tariff rate quota - TRQ) provided under the agreement can submit their applications from July 21 to August 4, the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a ...

Commerce secy in Geneva for India's trade policy review meeting at WTO

An official delegation headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal will participate in India's eighth trade policy review meeting at the WTO, scheduled on July 21 and 23 in Geneva, a government statement said on Monday. The Trade Policy Review (TPR) is an important transparency mechanism under the WTO (World Trade Organization). It entails a comprehensive peer review of a member's trade policies, consisting of a multitude of border and behind-the-border measures, to enhance transparency, predictability and understanding in the WTO. These reviews are conducted by the Trade Policy Review Body, which comprises the entire membership of the WTO. The review is carried out on the basis of two principal documents a policy statement submitted by the member under review (called the Government Report) and a report prepared by the WTO Secretariat, which is circulated to all member countries. All WTO members are subject to review at regular intervals, although at varying frequencies, determin

Why India has banned import of goods produced using forced labour

India on Tuesday amended the foreign trade policy to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour. The announcement was important as the US Trade Representative (USTR) is carrying out an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 against 60 countries, including India. It has alleged that the acts, policies, and practices of 60 economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour is unreasonable and burdens or restricts US commerce, and are thus actionable under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act. Here are the few questions and answers to under why "Forced Labour" is now at the centre of global trade: WHAT IS FORCED LABOUR? ------------------------------ As per the ILO (International Labour Organisation) Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), 'Forced Labour' means all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said pe

Framework for India-US trade deal is ready, to be signed on right time

Negotiations for a trade agreement between India and the US are progressing well, and the framework deal is ready which will be signed at the right time, an official said on Monday. The official said that India is seeking a comparative advantage on the tariff front in the agreement vis-a-vis its competitor nations. "There was a very good discussion (with the US team). The framework deal is ready...whenever there is right time, it will be signed. We are negotiating a framework deal and a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), and both things are progressing well," the official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last month held bilateral talks on issues related to the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement here. Trade deals are all about preferential market access or comparative advantage. "So that is something which is getting structured, whenever it is ready, things will be signed. But we are on a safe way, our understandin

India asks US to review proposed 12.5% tariff under Section 301 rules

New Delhi says USTR has not made an economy-specific case against India; offers dialogue to address specific concerns

India and the pitfalls of geoeconomics: A clear security doctrine is needed

A clear security doctrine is needed to ensure economic tools do not harm both the user and the target

India to oppose proposed US tariffs over forced labour at USTR hearing

India is set to challenge the proposed US tariffs on exports with the US Trade Representative next week, contending that the findings on forced labour are legally flawed and would affect American businesses and consumers. Representatives from the commerce ministry as well as industry bodies, such as APEDA, FICCI, CII and ACMA, are scheduled to present India's counter to the USTR proposal to impose tariffs at a public hearing on July 8. India has already, in written submissions, said that the USTR's findings do not take into account the country's robust domestic legal regime reflecting a structured and progressive approach combining statutory prohibitions, institutional mechanisms, and ongoing policy measures aimed at reducing vulnerability to forced labour. In its counter to the proposed tariffs, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said India's policy framework does not qualify as 'unreasonable' or 'discriminatory' under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974. The CII al

A club India should join: Why CPTPP can advance Viksit Bharat goals

Joining the CPTPP could integrate India into global supply chains, boost exports and support its Viksit Bharat 2047 ambitions before tougher entry conditions emerge

Board of Trade to meet on July 3 to discuss export growth strategies

The Board of Trade (BoT), chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, is scheduled to meet on July 3 to leverage benefits from recent trade pacts and to discuss strategies for accelerating the country's exports, an official said. The BoT includes participants from various states, Union territories, and senior officials from the public and private sectors. In the meeting, representatives of export promotion councils, along with other participants, will present their views on the export sector. "The BoT is meeting on July 3 here," the official said. The last meeting of the board was held on November 25, 2025. The meeting is important as India has implemented five free trade agreements (FTAs) since 2021 with Mauritius, Australia, the UAE, Oman, and the four-nation European EFTA bloc. It has also signed a pact with the UK, which will come into force on July 15. The trade pact with the 27-nation EU is expected to be signed by the end of this year and may come into force ne

Best of BS Opinion: Policy of incentives for NRIs must be debated

Today's opinions examine RBI incentives for FCNR deposits, the economic legacy of Brexit, India's trade strategy, institution-building for growth and lessons from successful founders

Review of trade in goods pact with Asean priority for India: MEA

India is pushing for an early review of the ASEAN trade pact while pursuing bilateral access for pharmaceuticals, agriculture and defence exports

India, Oman likely to discuss early FTA implementation on May 11

Early implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA), signed in December 2025 is likely to figure in the meeting of India and Oman on May 11 here, an official said. The agreement will provide duty-free access to 98 per cent of India's exports, including textiles, agri, and leather goods in Oman. On the other hand, India will reduce tariffs on Omanese products such as dates, marbles and petrochemical items. "Oman team is visiting here on May 11. India will try to push for early implementation of the FTA," the official said. Oman is an important strategic partner of Indian in the Middle East region and is a key gateway for Indian goods and services to the wider Middle East and Africa. Nearly 7 lakh Indian nationals reside in Oman. India receives about USD 2 billion remittances from Oman annually. This is the second trade deal of India with a GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member. India in May 2022 implemented a similar pact with the UAE and it is expected to soon start talks with

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