Piyush Goyal meets EU counterpart for second time in a month on FTA talks

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic in Brussels to advance free trade agreement negotiations, aiming for an early harvest deal by July. Discussions cover key areas like IPR, government procurement, and tariffs.

The US has informed the WTO that it sees no basis for India’s proposal to suspend concessions in response to American tariffs on steel and aluminium, arguing that these tariffs are not safeguard measures. India proposed retaliatory duties on 29 American products, claiming the US measures affect $7.6 billion in imports.

The commerce and industry ministry has assessed that the utilisation of the preferential route under the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) for the export of many goods, including chemicals and plastics, to Thailand is below 50%. The AITIGA was signed in 2009 and came into effect in 2010.

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit is scrutinizing transactions of 20 export houses suspected of laundering money to and from Pakistan via the UAE. The probe centers on inflated prices and commissions in trades involving items like jewelry, beauty products, and electric goods. Authorities suspect the funds may have links to terror, prompting a thorough investigation into […]

Piyush Goyal and Howard Lutnick met to discuss a trade agreement. Both nations want stronger economic ties. India and the US may sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement soon. India seeks concessions on leather and textiles. They aim to increase exports. The US was India’s largest trading partner in 2024-25.

The UK-India free trade agreement marks a significant step as the UK commits to non-discriminatory treatment for Indian companies in its public procurement, adhering to its Social Value regime. In return, India will allow UK firms to participate in non-sensitive sector procurements, excluding state and local government tenders, with considerations for ‘Make in India’ policy […]

The India-UAE CEPA, effective since May 2022, has spurred a surge in Indian investments in Dubai, particularly in sectors like IT, consumer products, and real estate. Trade facilitation and streamlined regulations under the agreement have fueled this growth. There’s significant potential for collaboration in AI, e-commerce, and advanced manufacturing, with Indian FDI into Dubai reaching […]

The UK government said trade with India will become “quicker, cheaper and easier” under the new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed this month. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called it the “best deal India has ever agreed to.” The deal is expected to boost UK exports—such as whisky, machinery, and medical devices—by £25.5 billion annually in […]

India and the US are expected to announce an interim trade agreement before July 8, when Washington’s 26% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods are set to take effect, an official said. New Delhi seeks a full exemption from these additional tariffs and plans to protect sensitive sectors with quotas or minimum import prices.

Moody’s Ratings indicates India’s strong domestic economy and low export dependence will help it withstand US tariffs and global trade disruptions. Government initiatives and easing inflation are expected to support economic growth, projected to be the highest among G-20 countries. While US tariffs pose uncertainties, India could benefit from capturing market share from other emerging […]