BS EDIT: A Shift in Mindset: India’s Strategic Trade Pivot

By Business StandardPublished On Jul 28, 2025

India and UK Seal Expansive Trade Pact

After years of talks, India signs a wide-ranging FTA with the UK, signalling its most ambitious trade move with a major economy in recent memory

A Departure from Old Trade Thinking

Unlike earlier talks, India didn't press hard for migration quotas. The focus has clearly shifted to broader tariff and market access goals

A Template for the EU Deal

With a year-end deadline for the India-EU pact, the UK deal sets a precedent for deeper concessions and broader ambition

Why the EU Matters More

The EU is a manufacturing giant and central to global supply chains. An FTA could be India’s most transformative trade breakthrough yet

US Talks Ahead: Risks and Rewards

India must now protect its US trade surplus, as Washington demands tough concessions. The stakes are rising in a changing global order

From Defensive to Strategic

India's trade strategy has evolved. The question is whether this boldness can hold against the EU’s demands and the US’s pressure