Page 2 - Trade Talks

India, New Zealand begin fourth round of talks on free trade agreement

Officials of India and New Zealand on Monday started the fourth round of negotiations in Auckland for the proposed free trade agreement, the commerce ministry said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will reach Auckland this week to meet his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay to review the progress of the negotiations. "The Fourth Round (November 3-7, 2025) of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced today (Monday) in Auckland, New Zealand," the ministry said in a statement. Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including trade in goods and services, and Rules of Origin. "Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA," it said. The FTA negotiations was formally launched on March 16, 2025. The third round of negotiations for the agreement concluded on September 19 in Queenstown, New ...

Tariff impact: Gems & jewellery shipments to US hardest hit in September

The US accounts for 37 per cent of India's total exports of precious stones and 28 per cent shipments of gold jewellery

EU team to visit India next week for 15th round talks on trade deal

Goyal expects both sides to make substantial progress towards closure by Dec

As FTAs loom, India must push sector-specific efficiencies in value chains

India's trade negotiations must be accompanied by sector-specific strategies to upgrade and align industries with global standards

Talks to begin on continuance of IT hardware import-management system

With the IMS for laptops and IT hardware set to expire on December 31, ministries will review its future amid rising imports from China and US concerns over India's monitoring framework

EU Parliamentary trade delegation in India to discuss FTA progress

Seven EU Parliament members to meet Indian officials, industry bodies, and civil society groups to assess progress on the India-EU free trade agreement

Jaishankar holds talks with Malaysian PM on sidelines of Asean summit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes for the successful event. Honoured to meet Prime Minister @anwaribrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister @narendramodi for a successful ASEAN Summit, Jaishankar, who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the annual ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, posted on social media. Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people-to-people linkages, he added. The External Affairs Minister also met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Cho Hyun, on the sidelines of the summit and discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding sectors. Delighted to meet @FMChoHyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed

Brazil, US to begin immediate talks to resolve tariff and trade issues

Ahead of the meeting on Sunday though, Trump said he could reach some agreements with Lula

US and China agree on trade framework ahead of Trump- Xi meeting

"I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday," Bessent told reporters

We aim to conclude Asean-India trade deal this year: Malaysian PM

The comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the ASEAN grouping is emerging as a powerful foundation for global stability and growth amid uncertainties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. In a virtual address at the India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) annual summit, Modi reaffirmed New Delhi's strong support to the grouping's centrality in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, are its dialogue partners. Malaysia is hosting the annual ASEAN summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping. In his remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there has been "some real progress" in the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and that the grouping wants to conclude it by this year. Modi declared 2026 as the "ASEAN-India year of maritime cooperation".

Piyush Goyal to visit Brussels Oct 27-28 to push India-EU trade pact talks

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels on October 27 for talks with his EU counterpart to give political impetus to the proposed trade pact, as the deadline to conclude negotiations nears. During the two-day visit, Goyal will meet Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade of the European Union Maros Sefcovic, the commerce ministry said on Sunday. "The visit comes at a crucial stage in the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, as both sides intensify efforts to conclude a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest," it said. The minister's visit aims to provide strategic direction and "political impetus" to the talks, it added. Discussions are expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA, including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. "The visit will also serve to review progress achieved so far and to identify areas requiring further convergence," the

High-level EU trade delegation to visit India next week to push FTA talks

A seven-member high-powered trade delegation of the European Union (EU) will visit India next week to push for finalising the long-awaited bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides. The delegation of the EU Committee on International Trade will be in India from October 27 to 29 to discuss trade, economic and investment relations. It will be led by Cristina Maestre, the committee's standing rapporteur for India, and Brando Benifei. "The main objective of this visit is to contribute to increasing our mutual understanding amid intensive trade negotiations between the EU and India," Maestre and Benifei said in a statement. "The mission is timely taking place just a few months ahead of the deadline to conclude negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025," they said. "We look forward to discussing the issues at stake as both sides have a mutual interest in reaching a meaningful bilateral agreement and in protecting the rules-based multilateral trad

India, Germany discuss ways to increase cooperation in trade, investment

India and Germany on Thursday discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, technology, green energy, and skilling. These issues were discussed during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reich in Berlin. "The discussions focussed on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, technology, green energy, and skilling," the commerce ministry said. Goyal also met Levin Holle, Economic and Financial Policy Advisor at the Federal Chancellery and Germany's G7 and G20 Sherpa, and discussed ways to further deepen the bilateral economic relationship. He chaired a roundtable with CEOs and leaders of German Mittelstand companies at the Indian Embassy, who conveyed their keenness to do business in India and expand existing investments. The minister highlighted opportunities offered by India and the measures taken by India to facilitate investments and ease of doing business. The

India, EU discuss resolution of pending issues in proposed trade pact

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said he held a meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to discuss outstanding issues related to the proposed trade pact. The meeting was important as Goyal is scheduled to visit Brussels next week to give an impetus to the ongoing negotiations for the proposed trade agreement between India and the European Union. "Had a productive engagement focused on the positive resolution of the outstanding issues with respect to the India-EU FTA with Mr @MarosSefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, ahead of my Brussels visit starting next week," Goyal said in a post on X. Goyal's visit follows the conclusion of the 14th round of talks between the two sides from October 6 to October 10. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has also held talks with European Commission (EC) Director General for Trade (DG-Trade) Sabine Weyand in Brussels. Engagements between the two sides have increased as they have decided to conc

Samvat 2082: Rupee, bond trajectories rest on RBI rate cut, US trade talk

With inflation easing and rate cuts on the horizon, bond yields may soften while the rupee steadies as trade negotiations with the US shape market sentiment

India-US trade talks cordial; farmers, MSME interests protected: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said talks between India and the US on the proposed bilateral trade agreement are progressing in a cordial atmosphere and New Delhi will protect the interests of farmers, fishermen and MSME sectors. "Bharat ke kisano ka, machhuvaaron ka, Bharat ke MSME sector ka, jub tak desh hiton ko puri tarah se hum sambhalen nai, tab tak koi agreement kiya nai jata (No agreement can be made until we take care of the interests of India's farmers, fishermen and MSME sector)," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question about the progress of talks between the two countries on the proposed pact and by when it will be concluded. "Talks are going on in a cordial atmosphere," he said. The remarks are important as the US is seeking concessions in India's agriculture sector. The Indian official team, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington this week to hold trade talks with their US counterparts. In February this

China's rare-earth restrictions aim to beat US at its own game

China's move has rekindled tensions between the world's two largest economies, with President Trump threatening to increase already substantial tariffs on Chinese imports

Alckmin meets Rajnath, to hold trade meeting with Piyush Goyal on Oct 16

He is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Oil Minister Hardeep Puri. Alckmin is set to attend the India- Brazil Business Forum, the Ministry of External Affairs said

Best of BS Opinion: Starmer visit shows room for growth in India-UK trade

Today's Opinion pieces look at the potential for growth in India-UK trade, the hurdles to the Gaza peace plan, India's geopolitical opportunity, and Trump's hidden call for global change

US envoy-designate Sergio Gor in India to discuss trade, bilateral ties

Gor's visit comes as India and the US work to finalise a trade deal amid tensions over doubled tariffs and extra duties on Russian crude oil imports