Page 2 - Trade Talks

PM Modi, Trump hold talks over phone, discuss ways to enhance trade

PM Modi and Trump held their first call since October, reviewing bilateral progress in trade, defence and technology, and reaffirming their commitment to a stronger strategic partnership

US trade team may press India on greater market access in agri products

The delegation headed by the Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer which is visiting India from 9 to 12 December has trade officials with expertise in agriculture among others

US, India to hold bilateral trade talks on December 10-11 in Delhi

A delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer will meet his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agarwal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement here this week, official sources said. The USA's chief negotiator for the pact, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, will hold discussions with India's chief negotiator and Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain. "A delegation from the office of the US Trade Representative, led by Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Rick Switzer, will be visiting India from December 9-11, 2025. Talks on 10th and 11th will happen on all trade-related issues," they said. The visit is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the pact. This visit of the US officials marks their second trip since the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market due to the purchase of Russian crud

To bridge trade gap, India and Russia may cut duties, ease barriers

Russia eyes mobility pact, duty cuts and sanctions-proof oil trade; major defence deals unlikely at annual summit

India set for 3rd-biggest tariff shock in global apparel and footwear trade

However, the other exporting countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia and Pakistan, will have a much lower incremental impact than India

US trade deals multiply but are offering little certainty or durability

A wave of new trade agreements under Trump 2.0 offers concessions to Asian partners, but their executive-order nature leaves room for renegotiation and continued uncertainty

New air freight corridors to connect Kabul with Delhi, Amritsar: MEA

The air freight corridors mark a return of direct trade links between the two nations that had slowed in recent years

India and Canada to reboot trade deal negotiations after 2 years

Govt calls for deeper ties in critical minerals and N-power

Piyush Goyal to convene the Board of Trade to assess US tariff hit

Piyush Goyal will review export challenges, logistics gaps and trade deal gains as industry seeks clarity on the new Export Promotion Mission

India offers major investment opportunities for Israeli firms: Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal said India presents strong investment prospects for Israeli companies across infrastructure, manufacturing, AI and emerging tech

Resilient domestic economy gives govt space to negotiate US trade deal

Indian exports to the US dropped 8.6 per cent year-on-year to $6.3 billion in October, the second month that the 50 per cent tariff on imports from the country was in place

Govt refining FDI, FII norms as India-US trade deal progresses: Goyal

Goyal said the government is holding regular consultations to streamline FDI and FII processes, boost investor confidence and advance fair, balanced India-US trade deal

First tranche of US-India bilateral trade agreement 'near closure'

India says the first tranche of the Indo-US trade deal is close to finalisation, with talks focused on easing reciprocal tariffs and boosting bilateral trade amid shifting export trends

COP30 at halftime sees EU pushback on India, China's CBAM, finance moves

Two issues on financial obligations of developed countries and unilateral trade agreements were dropped from the COP agenda after resistance from developed nations

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