Page 5 - Trade Talks

EU unlikely to impose 100% tariffs on India on Trump's request; here's why

The European Union treats tariffs and sanctions differently and considers imposing such tariffs as a risky move, and supports targeting specific entities with sanctions

India, Qatar may finalise terms of reference for trade deal in October

India and Qatar are likely to finalise terms of reference for a bilateral trade agreement next month, a senior official said on Monday. Once the terms of reference of the proposed trade pact are finalised, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal may visit Qatar in October, the official said. The official also informed that there is good progress on the proposed trade pact with the EU. The EU team is currently here for the 13th round of India-EU FTA talks. "It is possible that next month Qatar's terms of reference (for trade deal) may be finalised," the official said. Minister Goyal last month had said that Qatar wants to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. In February, India and Qatar agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 28 billion over the next five years.

India, EU begin 13th round of trade talks, hope to fast-track deal

India and the European Union (EU) on Monday started the next round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), an official said. After the 13th round of talks, European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic will visit India on September 12 to take stock of the progress of negotiations with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the official said. As there is a deadline to conclude the talks by the end of this year, this round of talks is important. The 12th round of talks concluded in Brussels. In June 2022, India and the 27-nation EU bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA, an investment protection agreement and a pact on geographical indications after a gap of over eight years. It stalled in 2013 due to differences on the level of opening up of the markets. On February 28, PM Narendra Modi and the European Commission president agreed to seal a much-awaited free trade deal by the end of this year. Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automo

India sees no drop in overall cargo shipments despite US tariffs: Sonowal

Amid concerns over the impact of a 50 per cent US tariff on Indian products, Union Ports Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday claimed that there has been no reduction in overall cargo shipments from India. Almost 90 per cent of India's foreign trade in terms of volume and 70 per cent of India's foreign trade by value is transported through sea routes. "We have not seen a reduction in overall cargo shipments from India," Sonowal told PTI when asked to comment on the impact of a 50 per cent steep tariff imposed by Washington on Indian goods entering the US. India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) since March. So far, five rounds of talks have been completed. After a 50 per cent duty was imposed on August 27, the US team has deferred its visit to India for the next round of talks, which was scheduled from August 25. No new dates have been finalised for the sixth round of negotiations. Amid tensions between India and the US, .

'If India doesn't budge, neither will Trump,' says US economic advisor

US economic advisor Kevin Hassett said India-US trade talks remain "complicated", linking them to US pressure on Russia for peace and India's reluctance to open its markets to American goods

FM Sitharaman meets Qatar trade minister to strengthen bilateral trade

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and discussed bilateral trade and investment, among others. During the discussion, Sitharaman highlighted the transformative steps taken by India to attract foreign investments in the last decade. "Both the Ministers reiterated the commitment to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations under the 'strategic partnership' between India and Qatar," the finance ministry said in a post on X. The Qatari delegation conveyed that they see good opportunities for investments in India, given India's economic growth and technological development. Separately, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary participated in a bilateral meeting with Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the State of Qatar, and his accompanying delegation. "This historic bilateral engagement witnessed in-depth discussions aimed at opening new avenu

Finland's President Stubb, PM Modi discuss India-EU trade and tech ties

Finland's President Alexander Stubb on Tuesday reiterated his country's support for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement in a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A PMO statement said the two leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Finland bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance partnership in emerging fields, including quantum technologies, 6G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability. Stubb affirmed support for the success of the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026, it added. The statement said Stubb shared his assessment with Modi on the recent meetings held between the leaders of Europe, the United States and Ukraine in Washington on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Modi reiterated India's consistent support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and early restoration of peace and stability, it added.

Russia-led EAEU team to visit India in September for free trade talks

A high-level EAEU delegation will visit New Delhi next month to begin negotiations on a proposed trade pact, expected to expand India's export markets

Are export sectors in the firing line? Markets brace for tariff fallout

From textiles and gems to auto parts and seafood, Indian exporters brace for shrinking US orders, job losses, and weaker earnings as Trump's tariff surge takes effect on August 27

India, Australia conclude 11th round of talks for comprehensive trade pact

India and Australia on Saturday concluded another round of negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. The two countries have implemented an interim trade deal in December 2022, and are now in negotiations to widen its scope into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. "The 11th Round of India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations was held in New Delhi from 18-23 August 2025, further advancing the shared objective of strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnership," the commerce ministry said. The negotiations covered a wide range of areas, including goods, services and mobility, digital trade, rules of origin, legal and institutional provisions, environment, labour, and gender, bringing greater understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions, it added. To maintain momentum and achieve convergence, both partners will continue the negotiations in virtual ...

India, Eurasian Economic Union sign terms to launch trade negotiations

Russia dominates grouping with more than 92% share in India's trade

'Great honour' to host European leaders: Trump ahead of Ukraine meeting

US Vice President JD Vance, who attended Trump's meeting with Zelenskiy in February that ended in a remarkable clash, will also participate in today's talks, a source briefed on the matter said

Ukraine ceasefire still on table as Trump seeks deal, says Rubio

While Donald Trump had gone into Friday's summit with Putin seeking a ceasefire, he'd emerged saying he was going to focus on a final settlement

Vikram Misri holds talks with Nepal's top leadership on boosting ties

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday called on Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and President Ramchandra Paudel and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors. Misri arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day visit to the Himalayan nation on the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai. During his meeting with Oli, which took place at the Prime Minister's Office at Singhdurbar, matters of mutual interest were discussed to further deepen bilateral relations. Misri reaffirmed the deep civilizational ties and strong IndiaNepal partnership, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation across various sectors, the Indian embassy here said in an X post. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava was also present at the meeting. The foreign secretary separately called on President Paudel and conveyed greetings of the Indian leadership, apart from briefing Hon'ble President on the progress in bilateral ties, the embassy sa

Bessent warns of higher secondary tariff on India, asks EU to join hands

Earlier in an interview with Fox Business, Bessent said India has been a "bit recalcitrant" on trade negotiations with the US

India has been recalcitrant in trade talks: US Treasury Secy Bessent

Bessent said he hoped the Trump administration could wrap up its trade negotiations by the end of October

Confident of 6th round of India-US trade talks: Officials to House panel

Officials told a parliamentary panel that India-US ties go beyond trade, denied halting defence purchases, and expressed confidence the sixth BTA talks will proceed

Brazil, Poland, Africa may offer export opportunities for auto parts makers

Indian manufacturers can significantly expand their exports, particularly in the independent aftermarket segment amid US tariffs, says EY report

Trade talks with India to begin soon: Philippines President Marcos

India and the Philippines are taking concrete steps towards launching formal negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement, Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr said on Wednesday. Addressing the 'India-Philippines CEO Roundtable Meeting', organised by FICCI, here, President Marcos emphasised that the Philippines and India see the PTA as a strategic platform to harness their shared strengths and elevate our economic partnership. "We are working to find common ground to make the PTA come as quickly as possible. We have found ways to quicken the process with strong support from both government and business chambers, we are taking concrete steps towards launching formal negotiations," he said, according to a release issued by FICCI. Marcos also stated that the government has taken a slew of measures to attract more Indian investments by ensuring ease of doing business in the Philippines. "These reforms show our commitment to create a truly enabling environment for ...

Mahindra CEO backs India's trade stance amid ongoing US tariff tensions

Mahindra Group CEO and MD Anish Shah has expressed confidence in the government's handling of trade talks with the US, saying he was hopeful of a strong and positive outcome for the country from the dialogue. With just a day left before his 25 per cent reciprocal trade tariffs take effect, US President Donald Trump is doubling down on his threat to impose even higher duties on India, accusing it of funding Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine through continued purchases of Russian oil. "For us, it is not very material," he said on the impact of US tariffs on the Mahindra group," said Shah in an interview with PTI Videos. Shah, who leads the USD 25 billion SUVs-to-software conglomerate, said the Indian government has always kept the overall interest of the country in mind and operated in a way that could get a good solution. Indian officials continue to negotiate with the US for a bilateral trade deal by October/November and see the higher duties on the country's exports to the US as a .