Trade Deal

India, South Africa discuss preferential trade pact through SACU bloc

SACU nations include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini and is the world's oldest customs union, over a century old

India should restore soybean exports to US in bilateral trade talks: SEA

India should prioritise reviving exports of organic non-GMO soybean and soybean meal to the United States during ongoing Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, industry body Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) said on Monday. India previously exported 150,000-200,000 tonnes of organic, non-GMO soybean products to the US before safeguard duties imposed after opposition from domestic US producers effectively halted this trade, according to SEA. "It is essential that the Ministry of Commerce pursues the revival of these exports as part of the ongoing BTA discussions," SEA President Sanjeev Asthana said in a statement. The two countries are currently negotiating a bilateral trade agreement that includes discussions on key agricultural commodities such as soybean and maize. SEA also raised concerns about non-standardised packaging of edible oils following regulatory changes in 2022, saying varied pack sizes like 800 gram, 810 gram and 850 gram have created consumer confusion and

First phase of India-US trade deal likely by fall this year: Sitharaman

Addressing the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the issue of reciprocal tariff is part of a broader trade negotiation strategy

India never negotiates at gunpoint: Piyush Goyal on US trade deal

Both nations may pursue interim trade pact within 90 days

'Eagerness' on both sides to conclude India-UK FTA: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday wrapped up the 13th Ministerial India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) with her British counterpart, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, on a note of positivity and eagerness to conclude the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations soon. The annual dialogue, held at the London Stock Exchange, covered a broad range of issues which the UK Treasury said resulted in a GBP 400 million of trade and investment boost involving Indian firms such as Paytm and Mphasis unveiling investment plans for the UK market. A resulting joint statement from the EFD sets out plans to generate growth, improve bilateral financial services ties and deepen policy cooperation on the UK Industrial Strategy, tax, sustainable finance and illicit finance. Areas for collaboration on defence were also identified, with the finalisation of the India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap set to strengthen ties between industrial sectors and integrate supply chains. I valu

Trump tariffs: 3 in 4 CEOs want India to negotiate with US, shows BS poll

Seventy-three per cent of the respondents said they were not impacted by the Trump tariff, while the rest were divided equally between seeing it as an opportunity and expecting adverse impact

New Zealand PM Luxon hasn't given up on dairy in trade deal with India

New Zealand efforts to secure better access to India's huge markets have foundered in the past, in particular because India wants to shield its dairy industry from imports

US Commerce Secy Lutnick urges India to lower tariffs, moots 'grand' deal

India's import tariffs, among the highest in the world, warrant a reassessment of its "special relationship" with the United States, Lutnick said, speaking from Washington

India-EU trade talks: Tariffs, market access, regulatory clashes in focus

Talks for an India-EU free trade agreement, stalled for eight years, resumed in 2021, now cover investment protection and geographical indications.

PM Modi's US visit to focus on trade, tech, and migration: USISPF chief

Aghi highlighted the importance of early discussions between PM Modi and President Donald Trump, noting that alignment on common objectives would help drive the growth of both economies

UK trade secy Jonathan Reynolds to visit India in Feb for FTA talks

Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, on Monday revealed plans to visit India next month with a focus on finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations as part of the UK government's ambition to elevate the bilateral partnership across all sectors. Addressing India Global Forum's (IGF) annual UK-India Parliamentary Lunch at the House of Lords complex in London, Reynolds highlighted the strength of the bilateral trading relationship which stood at GBP 41 billion in the year until September 2024. However, the Cabinet minister went on to reaffirm the British government's commitment to improve trade between India as the fifth and the UK as the sixth largest economies of the world. I want to reaffirm the UK's commitment to deliver growth for both countries through the trade deal that we're talking about, through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Technology Security Initiative; and I can let you know exclusively, I hear what you say

Govt aims to secure Russian crude oil term deal by next financial year

Falling crude prices, shrinking global demand growth, and Rosneft's focus on India, make the timing right

India readies various strategies to tackle 'US first' trade policy

The government is closely assessing Trump's election speeches and actions during his previous tenure, the official told Business Standard

UAE to address India's concerns over rise in silver, platinum alloy imports

In the case of silver, over the last few months, the commerce department tried to understand the reasons behind the surge in imports

India needs more trade, and being inside RCEP is better than staying out

While India's growth over the past decades has appeared impressive, the contribution of trade to that acceleration has been small and is decreasing

India-EFTA trade deal: Swiss Federal Council begins ratification process

Switzerland's federal cabinet has adopted the ambitious trade pact between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and placed it before Parliament as part of the ratification process. The ambitious trade pact, signed in March between India and the European bloc comprising Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, aims at expanding trade across a range of areas, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, new technologies and machinery. Under the mega trade deal, the four European countries are looking at making an investment of USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 years. Each of the signatory countries will have to ratify the pact for its roll out. On Wednesday, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch on the free-trade agreement between the EFTA states and India, the Swiss government said in a statement. The Federal Council, which is the Swiss federal cabinet, is the highest executive authority in the country. The Swiss Parliament is expected to debate the ..

New UK PM Starmer seeks to improve on 'botched' trade deal with EU

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad. During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh, that he billed as an immediate reset with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, Starmer said he would also seek to improve the UK's botched trade deal with the European Union. "I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the UK with, he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit. Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his first visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden. With two of Starmer's ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the UK following his party's landslide victory last week. Starmer, who said he has a mandate to do

Labour Party's electoral victory renews hope for India-UK trade deal

Keir Starmer became Britain's Prime Minister on Friday after his Labour Party's landslide electoral victory against Rishi Sunak-led Conservatives

India-Chile free-trade agreement talks may begin after Lok Sabha polls

A trade deal with Chile will give India greater access to Latin American region

India embraces trade deals as cos look beyond China for alternatives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is taking advantage of India's growing appeal as the world's fastest-growing major economy and an alternative to China for global supply chains