Overview
- Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said India and the US are running two parallel negotiations, with a near-term framework aimed at lifting reciprocal tariffs expected to precede a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement.
- Officials reported that most technical issues in the tariff framework have been resolved through regular virtual talks and that a decision could be taken within the calendar year, though the 50% US duty on many Indian goods remains in force.
- Piyush Goyal said India is negotiating trade agreements with about 50 partners, including the US and the European Union, as part of a push to work with trusted markets and diversify access.
- Talks with Canada on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are slated to resume next week after a pause, with both sides exploring ways to expand two-way trade.
- India and the UAE reviewed CEPA implementation after bilateral trade reached $100.06 billion in FY 2024–25 and agreed on steps covering market access, data sharing, competitive Gold TRQ allocation, and regulatory cooperation including food safety and standards.