Page 2 - Trade Talks

Best of BS Opinion: Government must continue with trimming its QCO list

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at Bihar's fiscal test after NDA win, pushback against QCOs, Trump's tariff stance and India's options, India Inc earnings vs GDP, and a biography of Francis Crick

India, EAEU review roadmap for proposed FTA to deepen trade, market access

India and the five-nation grouping Eurasian Economic Commission have reviewed the roadmap for their proposed free trade agreement in goods with an aim to boost economic ties between the two, according to an official statement on Sunday. On August 20 this year, India and the Eurasian Economic Union bloc inked terms of reference to start formal negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has visited Moscow last week to hold talks with Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev and Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Mikhail Yurin. "In the meeting with Minister Slepnev, the Commerce Secretary reviewed the next steps for the India-EAEU FTA in goods. The Terms of Reference signed on 20 August 2025 outline an 18-month work plan aimed at diversifying markets for Indian businesses, including MSMEs, farmers and fishermen," the commerce ministry said on Sunday. The five members of the Eurasian Economic Unio

Canadian Trade Minister Sidhu seeks fresh start to revive ties with India

India is a priority market for Canada, with two-way goods and services trade reaching about $31 billion in 2024, largely in Canada's favour due to its $16 billion services exports

Centre monitoring US Supreme Court case against Donald Trump tariffs

Indian officials and experts are monitoring the US Supreme Court case challenging Donald Trump's tariff powers, assessing how the verdict may affect the proposed India-US trade agreement

Don't bet on the court: Tough US trade policy shifts are here to stay

Trump has used the decades-old emergency authorisation to effectively overturn America's longstanding trade policy

FTA to boost bulk Scotch imports, benefit India's IMFL makers: SWA chief

Import of bulk Scotch will increase in India after signing of Free Trade Agreement with the UK, which will be used by IMFL makers and bottling in India, according to Scotch Whisky Association Chief Executive Mark Kent CMG. The FTA between India and the UK, which is awaiting ratification, will also see a variety of quality Scotch whisky coming into the country, especially from some of the smaller producers from Scotland, Mark Kent told PTI in an interview. "You will see more bulk whiskey coming into India as a result of the free trade agreement, both for bottling in India, and for incorporating into IMFL (India-Made Foreign Liquor)," he said. This is normal, because as the Indian market is growing year-on-year, the increasing demand will see greater quantities being imported, Mark Kent said. He is quite encouraged by the trend of premiumisation happening in India, the world's largest whisky market and is "optimistic" for the prospects of Scotch whisky here. India is the world's num

India, US working to resolve sensitivities in trade pact talks, says Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said India and the US are holding continuous discussions for the proposed bilateral trade agreement. "Talks are going well...and are continuously going on. ..kaee samvedanasheel mudde hai, kaee gambheer mudde hai, toh svaabhaavik hai ki thoda samay lagega (There are many sensitive issues, many serious issues, so it is natural that it will take some time)," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question about the progress on India-US negotiations on the pact. Goyal is here on a four-day official visit. He is leading a business delegation. Five rounds of talks have been completed so far for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between the US and India. A team of Indian officials, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington last month to hold trade talks with their US counterparts. The three-day talks ended on October 17. In February this year, leaders of India and the US directed official

Make the most of free-trade agreements, PM Narendra Modi tells exporters

At a high-level meeting with export councils, PM Modi called on exporters to fully leverage India's FTAs amid US tariff hikes, while industry sought policy and financial relief

Piyush Goyal to discuss progress of India-New Zealand trade pact talks

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting New Zealand to review the progress of the ongoing negotiations for the proposed trade pact, an official statement said. Goyal, will be in Auckland on November 5 to engage in discussions with Todd McClay, Minister for Trade of New Zealand, on the ongoing FTA (Free Trade Agreement) negotiations. "The visit reflects the shared commitment of both countries to expedite the FTA process and build a more comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership," the commerce ministry said. The fourth round of India-New Zealand FTA negotiations commenced in Auckland on November 3 with an aim to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties between the two nations, it said. During the visit, Goyal will participate in a series of engagements aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and innovation linkages between India and New Zealand. "These include a dedicated interaction with prominent members of the New Zealand business community

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