Page 2 - Trade Agreements

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

'Made in India' gets UK boost: Goyal hails 'red carpet' for local products

India-UK Free Trade Agreement boosts 'Made in India' exports. Piyush Goyal shares a state-wise list of products gaining UK access, highlighting regional gains and new global trade opportunities

India-UK FTA: Over 95% Indian farm exports to get duty-free market access

India's FTA with the UK boosts agri and food exports with 95% items duty-free, while protecting dairy, oils, and apples. Farmers, seafood, and processed goods sectors set to gain significantly

Aug 1 is hard tariff deadline, but US open to talks: Commerce Secy Lutnick

India-US trade talks continue with agriculture remaining a major sticking point for both nations as they try to reach an interim deal before the August 1 deadline

India-EFTA trade pact to come into force from Oct 1: Piyush Goyal

To generate $500 billion investment in India likely in brownfield or greenfield projects, and maybe in some cases, even mature assets

India should avoid rushing for trade agreement with US, say experts

India should avoid rushing into a trade deal with the US that compromises core sectors like agriculture, experts on Sunday said, cautioning that Washington is not sparing even its key partners like the EU. The US has shot off letters to 24 countries and the European Union (EU) imposing tariffs that are as high as 50 per cent on Brazil. On its key trading partners like the EU and Mexico, 30 per cent duties have been proposed from August 1. Economic think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative) said India must recognise that it is not alone in facing US pressure. The US is currently negotiating with over 20 countries and seeking concessions from more than 90. "Yet most are resisting because they see these MASALA (Mutually Agreed Settlements Achieved through Leveraged Arm-twisting) deals for what they are politically driven, transactional demands offering no lasting trade certainty," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said. He added that both the EU and Mexico are major trade partners

India-US trade deal awaits Trump's nod ahead of July 9 tariff deadline

The first phase of the India-US trade pact is ready and awaits Trump's approval, with a possible signing before the July 9 deadline to avoid additional tariffs on Indian goods

India to pitch for preferential trade pact expansion with Mercosur nations

Mercosur is a Latin American trading bloc, with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay as its members

India hardens stance on agri issues as US trade talks enter key phase

India has hardened its position on issues related to agriculture as negotiations with the US team in Washington have entered a crucial stage, an official said on Monday. The official also said that the stay of the Indian team, headed by special secretary in the department of commerce Rajesh Agrawal, is expected to be extended further. The team is in Washington for negotiations on an interim trade agreement with the US. Both sides are rushing to close a deal ahead of the July 9 deadline for the full implementation of a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff which has been suspended since April. "If the proposed trade talks fail, the 26 per cent tariffs will come into force again," the official added. The stay of the Indian officials has already been extended for three days until June 30. Initially, the delegation was scheduled to stay for two days with the talks having commenced on June 26. Another official said that the commerce ministry has informed domestic exporters and industry that th

'Very big' trade deal coming, maybe with India, says Donald Trump

The ongoing in-person round of talks between New Delhi and Washington is crucial, considering that the end of the 90-day pause on the US's plan to impose country-specific reciprocal tariffs on July 9

India, UK trade deal likely to be signed by July end, says official

The process of legal scrubbing of the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) text is progressing at a faster pace, and the pact is expected to be signed by the end of July, an official said on Tuesday. To give an impetus to the process, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is in London with his official team. Barthwal will meet UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and other British senior officials during his two-day visit. The two countries announced the conclusion of the negotiations on May 6. It will remove taxes on the export of labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing, while making imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper, in a bid to double trade between the two economies to USD 120 billion by 2030. The world's fifth and sixth-largest economies concluded the deal after three years of on-off negotiations. Once the FTA is signed, it will require approval from the British Parliament and India's Cabinet before it can take effect

India 'not desperate' to seal early tranche of trade deal with US

Prime minister Narendra Modi and President Trump in February had agreed to sign a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement (BTA)

US, UK say they've cemented trade agreement, Trump says 'fair' for both

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that they are signing a trade deal that will slash tariffs on goods from both countries. The deal does not include tariffs on steel, an especially important piece of bilateral trade. Instead, talks are still going on about whether steel tariffs will be cut to zero as planned in the provisional agreement. Trump and Starmer announced in May they'd struck an agreement that would slash US import taxes on British cars, steel and aluminum in return for greater access to the British market for US products including beef and ethanol. But it did not immediately take effect, leaving British businesses uncertain about whether the UK could be exposed to any surprise hikes from Trump. British businesses, and the UK government, were blindsided earlier this month when Trump doubled metals tariffs on countries around the world to 50 per cent. He later clarified the level would remain at 25 per cent for the UK. Starmer said Mond

India aims to finalise early tranche of US trade pact before July 9

Absence of US Trade Promotion Authority may prolong broader BTA negotiations, but India hopes to secure early agreement on tariffs by July 9 deadline

Rare earth, tariffs and geopolitics: Centre walks tightrope on trade deal

Supply-chain disruptions related to rare earth magnets from China are another cause of geopolitical anxiety for the government at this point

US delegation in India to discuss trade pact: What will be on agenda?

A high-level US delegation visits New Delhi to advance bilateral trade negotiations, focusing on tariff reductions, market access, and resolving disputes ahead of July 9 deadline

Would be delighted for India to produce a wide range of products: Lutnick

While the US is concerned about India's high tariffs, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the two countries could find common ground in a new trade agreement

India-EU free trade pact could be concluded before year end: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that negotiations for the proposed comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) are progressing at a rapid pace and the deal could be concluded before the year end. He also said that India will raise its concerns over certain EU's regulations such as carbon tax and deforestation rules in the trade talks. "We have certain concerns about EU practices and regulations, likewise they have certain areas which they would like to discuss. All issues are on the table and we will negotiate a fair, balanced and equitable FTA," Goyal told reporters here. He added that all of these issues will come up for discussions, so that both sides can come up with a robust agreement that will support market access and promote easier trade. The minister is here for a two-day visit. He will meet French leaders and business representatives to promote trade and investments between the two countries. When asked ab

Well on track in our bilateral trade agreement talks with US: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said negotiations with the US for a bilateral trade agreement are well on track. The negotiations for the trade agreement with the European Union (EU) are also progressing at a faster pace, he added. "We are well on track in our bilateral trade agreement with the US and making fast progress with EU," Goyal said at the CIIs annual general meeting event here. A US official team is visiting India next week for trade talks with India.

Pursue trade deals, but focus equally on enhancing industry competitiveness

India retaliated against some ill-considered statements and actions by the Bangladesh government by closing its land borders for import of some goods from that country