Gold, silver import surges 210 pc in 2023-24 from UAE; need duty revision in FTA: GTRI

Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said this sharp rise in gold and silver imports is primarily driven by import duty concessions granted by India to the UAE under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

New Delhi, India can propose retaliatory customs duties under WTO norms on EU imports due to disagreement over EU safeguard measures on steel products. EU extended safeguard duties on steel imports till 2026, affecting India’s steel exports to the EU.

India and the European Union failed to reach an agreement at the WTO on concessions related to safeguard measures on steel imports, impacting India’s imports.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the feasibility study for a land connectivity proposal with India is nearing completion. This initiative, along with discussions on a potential power grid connection and the sale of excess renewable energy to India, will be on the agenda during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to Sri […]

At the G7 Summit, the Group of Seven industrialized nations committed to promoting infrastructure projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), reaffirming a commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is set to be signed after the UK’s elections on July 4. So far, 13 negotiation rounds have been completed, focusing on reducing tariffs and addressing regulatory concerns. Both sides aim to finalize the FTA to enhance bilateral trade, currently valued at GBP 38.1 billion annually.

The data showed that the inbound shipments from China during the month were 2.82 per cent higher at USD 8.48 billion. Among the top 20 import source nations of India, imports from Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia and Malaysia recorded negative growth in May.

On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Italy. “The President spoke about the functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor, which makes it possible to increase exports of sunflower oil to India and turnover of other categories of goods,” the Ukrainian president’s website read.

Terming May as an “excellent” month for exports, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said that the situation was looking more optimistic for trade this year, with even sectors such as textiles recording healthy growth after months of sluggishness.

India’s trade department said on Friday that the country’s car market is “well-protected” through high tariffs on the import of electric vehicles, at a time when other major economies like the European Union have slapped tariffs on Chinese EVs.