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Trade agreements

India Pursues Trade Negotiations with Major Economies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Indian government is actively engaged in trade negotiations with several major economies, including the European Union, the US, Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, and New Zealand. Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ram Nath Thakur informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday that these negotiations aim to expand India's global trade footprint and enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports. The talks focus on securing market access for agricultural products and protecting the interests of farmers and domestic industries.

Key Takeaways:

  • India is negotiating trade agreements with the European Union, the US, Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, and New Zealand.
  • The agreements aim to expand India's global trade footprint and enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports.
  • The negotiations focus on securing market access for agricultural products and protecting the interests of farmers and domestic industries.
  • The free trade agreements (FTAs) provide for maintaining sensitive, negative, or exclusion lists of items on which limited or no tariff concessions are granted.
  • In case of a surge in imports and injury to the domestic industry, countries are allowed to take recourse to trade remedial measures such as anti-dumping and safeguards on imports within a mutually agreed period.
  • Rules of Origin, including product-specific rules, are developed with stakeholder consultations.

Statistics:

  • The number of countries with which India is negotiating trade agreements: 7 (European Union, US, Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, and New Zealand)
  • The number of agreements being negotiated: 8 (India--European Union FTA, India--Australia CECA, India--Sri Lanka ETC, India--Peru FTA, India--Chile CEP, India--New Zealand FTA, India--USA BTA, and a similar approach with the United Kingdom)
  • The percentage of sensitive or negative lists of items on which limited or no tariff concessions are granted: Not specified
  • The percentage of imports for which countries are allowed to take recourse to trade remedial measures: Not specified

Sources:

  • The Indian Express (P) Ltd Copyright 2025 IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com

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