Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the India-EU free trade agreement is on track for signing by December-end, while reiterating India's demand for a competitive edge in the interim US trade deal
Goyal called for greater focus on Japanese, German and French, citing demand for language-skilled professionals in Japan. His remarks come as CBSE rolls out the three-language framework
Piyush Goyal will chair the Board of Trade meeting on July 3 to discuss boosting exports to $2 trillion by improving FTA utilisation and cutting logistics costs
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
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the 'Made in India' label represents the country's reputation and commitment to quality and stressed that quality is not just a corporate metric, but a national responsibility. Goyal cited Tamil Nadu-based Florence Shoe Company's global success as an example of how Indian entrepreneurs are strengthening Brand India's image through world-class manufacturing. Sharing the story of Florence Shoe Company founder Aqeel Ahmed Panaruna during a business plenary session in London on June 27, Goyal said an international customer spotted a luxury Hugo Boss shoe at Cairo Airport, checked its label and found it carried the words "Made in India". The shoe had been manufactured by Panaruna's company in Ambur, Tamil Nadu. "When you label a product 'Made in India', you are representing a country," he said. For entrepreneurs like Aqeel, quality is not just a corporate metric, it is a national responsibility, Goyal said in a social media ...
India's policy week was marked by US trade talks, weak core output, stronger FDI, coal-import substitution and a faster disinvestment push
Transformational growth should be the prime focus of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told business leaders at a plenary session in London on Friday. The minister is in the UK on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of both countries for the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which comes into force on July 15. During an interactive event organised by the High Commission of India in London, Goyal heard from members of a Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry-led delegation on the sector-wide opportunities on offer from CETA, such as advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, renewable energy, healthcare and tourism. "Collaborations, cooperations, partnerships will be, in my humble opinion, the right way to come in quickly for both British businesses and Indian businesses," Goyal told the gathering. "It will wedge your way faster; not compulsory, of course, your choice. If you are ...
Commerce minister says agreement hinges on Washington providing tariff advantage against rival economies
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK is the most comprehensive agreement that India has entered into so far and "sky is the limit" in terms of the economic benefits that will flow from it, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said here Thursday. The minister arrived in the UK on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of both countries for the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which will enter into force from July 15. Addressing the India Global Forum (IGF) UK-India Week at the start of his tour, the minister exhorted businesses in both countries to "seize the moment" and set ambitious targets to boost the estimated 48-billion-pound annual bilateral trading partnership on the back of CETA. "The UK free trade agreement will be the first most comprehensive agreement that India has entered into so far," said Goyal. "It's a partnership between two complementary economies, two growing economies. We understand each other,
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reviewed key trade issues, but negotiations offered few signals on when an interim agreement may be concluded
India and the US on Wednesday concluded two-day ministerial-level talks on the proposed first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), a framework for which was announced in February this year. Both sides are looking at finalising the talks before the expiry of the 10 per cent temporary tariffs imposed by the US on all its trading partners on February 24. The tariffs will expire on July 24. The talks were held between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer here. "Concluded a series of meetings with @USTradeRep Ambassador Jamieson Greer and his delegation this morning. We reviewed progress of the ongoing IndiaUS trade discussions and explored avenues to further deepen our economic partnership. "I appreciate Ambassador Greer's leadership and the sustained efforts of both teams in advancing our discussions in a constructive and forward-looking manner," Goyal said in a social media post.
India and the United States opened high-level trade talks on Tuesday aimed at salvaging and recalibrating a proposed bilateral trade agreement after changes in US tariff policy upended a framework negotiated earlier this year. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer here as both sides sought to conclude an interim trade pact before July 24, when Washington's temporary 10 per cent tariff on imports from trading partners is due to expire. "Warm welcome to @USTradeRep Amb Jamieson Greer, @USAmbIndia Amb Sergio Gor and their delegation to @DoC_GoI. Looking forward to productive discussions on the bilateral trade agreement between (India & US)," Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a post on X. Greer's two-day visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held their first meeting in more than a year on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on June 17, injecting fresh momentum into trade
Recycling commitments under the Rs 1,500-crore incentive scheme reach 850 kilotonnes against a 270-kilotonne target as India accelerates critical mineral plans
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says India does not negotiate trade agreements under deadlines as USTR Jamieson Greer arrives for talks on the interim trade deal
New Delhi is seeking tariff concessions superior to those offered to competing Asian economies as it works towards finalising a bilateral trade agreement with the United States
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations on the US trade deal are taking longer than expected due to a 50% tariff on Indian goods, while India continues to seek preferential market access
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold two-day talks this week on the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement. "For the US trade deal talks, tomorrow my counterpart is coming to Delhi," Goyal told reporters in Mumbai. The meeting followed chief negotiator-level discussions on the pact held earlier this month (June 2-4) here in the national capital. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has recently stated that the discussions between the two ministers are expected to be centred around giving final touches to the framework deal. On June 5, Goyal said India and the US are moving towards closing all the open ends of the interim trade agreement, and both sides are likely to execute the "very, very vibrant" first phase of the BTA by the middle of next month. IMPORTANCE OF THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH -------------------------------------------------- The 10 per cent temporary tariff imposed by the US on all its trading partners o
India and the 27-nation European Union will sign the free trade agreement by December and are likely to implement the pact during February- March next year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. On January 27 this year, India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the 'mother of all deals'. "Now, with almost zero duty, almost the entire European market will be open for us. The EU's FTA (free trade agreement) will be signed by December and will be effective by February-March," Goyal said during an interaction with chartered accountants in Mumbai. He also said that his US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, is coming to India this week to hold trade pact talks with him. "The whole world is looking towards India," he added. Under the India-EU FTA, about 93 per cent of Indian shipments will enjoy duty-free access to the 27-nation bloc, while imports of luxury cars and wines from the EU will become less expensive. Taken together, India and the
The country's merchandise exports rose by about 15 per cent during April-June 14 this year despite global economic uncertainties, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. The Commerce Ministry will formally release the export and import data for June on July 15. Goyal said that despite 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US, India's exports in 2025-26 recorded healthy growth. "Even now, if we see April, May and 14 days of June. I have data until June 14, it (exports growth) is 15 per cent," he said during an interaction with chartered accountants in Mumbai. India's exports climbed to a six-month high of 18 per cent to USD 45.2 billion in May, while the trade deficit widened to USD 28.21 billion. During April-May 2026-27, exports rose 16.09 per cent to USD 88.91 billion and imports jumped 15.14 per cent to USD 145.35 billion. The trade deficit stood at USD 56.44 billion during the period. He also urged the chartered accountants to contribute to make India a 'Viks
The issue currently pending is that our duties need to be lower compared to those of competing nations, said Piyush Goyal