BUSINESS
Gold imports jump in January, Swiss, UAE inflows lead spike
Overall, gems and jewellery imports, at $15.3 billion in January, drove merchandise imports up 19% from a year earlier
ECONOMY-2
Critical minerals chapter in India-Chile FTA may be extended to Peru
The government is making efforts to operationalise the FTA with the United Kingdom by April this year.
BUSINESS
Indian team to visit US next week to finalise legal pact; tariffs seen falling to 18% this week
India and the United States have agreed to cut tariffs on industrial goods, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, gems and aircraft parts as part of the framework for an interim trade agreement.
BUSINESS
India's trade deficit widens to $34.7 billion in January
Goods imports rose due to gold and silver shipments
BUSINESS
FTA partners accounted for a third of India’s goods trade gap at $31 billion in Q2 FY26
India’s exports to its FTA partners amounted to $38 billion during the second quarter of the current fiscal, while imports rose 5 percent year-on-year to $69.8 billion, resulting in a sizeable trade gap.
BUSINESS
India must make more components to keep electronics exports growing, says NITI Aayog
Chips account for over a quarter of global electronics demand but India’s share in this segment is just 0.02 percent, the think-tank's Trade Watch Quarterly has said
BUSINESS
FTAs open up 70% of global GDP to India, largely at zero duty, says Piyush Goyal
The minister added that most developed markets now have trade arrangements with India.
BUSINESS
The tariff math behind Bangladesh’s zero-duty access for US cotton garments
To be sure, the arrangement could still give Bangladesh a limited edge given that the overall gap in reciprocal tariffs with India is just one percentage point.
BUSINESS
Refunds from US 25% tariff rollback likely be limited
There is no well‑established precedent in the US for automatic refunds after the rollback of reciprocal or retaliatory tariffs imposed through an executive action
BUSINESS
India, EU FTA to kick in within a year, says Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal
India and the European Union announced the conclusion of negotiations for the FTA on February 27.
BUSINESS
Bangladesh’s zero-duty US access poses fresh challenge to Indian textile exporters
The US–Bangladesh Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, signed on February 9, cuts the reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi goods to 19% and provides duty‑free access to certain garments made with US‑produced cotton
BUSINESS
India set to tap $206 billion US agri market via zero duty, lower reciprocal tariffs
In 2024, India exported agricultural products worth $3.4 billion to the United States
BUSINESS
A line on non-tariff barriers in the India-US trade framework is causing unease
Some experts say references to non-tariff barriers in trade agreements are common, but the US has long cited India’s restrictions on genetically modified food imports as a significant barrier.
BUSINESS
American wines, motorcycles, medical devices gain from India-US interim trade pact
Under the framework, India will eliminate or cut tariffs on all US industrial goods and a broad basket of American agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits and additional items.
BUSINESS
Half of India’s exports to US could turn duty-free under interim trade deal
Around $14 billion additional exports may get zero-duty access as reciprocal tariffs ease further
BUSINESS
Section 232 carve-outs could ease tariffs on about $5 billion of Indian exports to US
In 2024, more than $8 billion worth of Indian exports were subject to Section 232 tariffs, which range between 25% and 50% depending on product categories. Nearly $4 billion of this exposure came from automobiles and auto components
BUSINESS
Harley-Davidson motorcycles to enter India duty-free under interim US agreement
India-US Trade Deal: Under the interim agreement, India will reduce duties on high-end American cars, but no tariff concessions have been extended to electric vehicles.
BUSINESS
50%, 25% or 18%? What tariff applies to Indian goods today
The US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods in August, comprising a 25% reciprocal tariff and an ad valorem duty of 25% linked to India’s imports of Russian oil. That ad valorem levy was removed on February 6
BUSINESS
Tariff cuts on pharma, gems, and aircraft parts in India-US interim trade deal
The framework, announced jointly by the two sides on February 7, outlines commitments for an interim deal lowering reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to 18 percent.
BUSINESS
India may go slow on full digital rupee rollout, track global cues
India is monitoring developments in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe and could either wait for other major economies to launch first or align its rollout with them
BUSINESS
Energy, aviation sectors to lead US imports to India under $500-billion plan
The $500-billion figure entered the discussion after President Donald Trump on February 2 said India had committed to investments of that scale in the US. New Delhi later clarified that as an estimate of cumulative purchases and investments spread over a five-year period
BUSINESS
India, Gulf Cooperation Council sign terms of reference for trade deal
The ToR sets out the framework, scope and guiding principles for the negotiations, paving the way for formal talks on a trade agreement.
BUSINESS
India–US first tranche trade deal eyed by mid-March; tariffs may drop next week, says Goyal
The reduction in reciprocal tariffs will be implemented after the US issues an executive order once both sides finalise the joint statement by next week, Commerce Minister said.
BUSINESS
How de-linking Saudi investment talks fast-tracked India‑Gulf trade deal
India is moving forward with the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a trade pact with the the Gulf Cooperation Council, set for signing on February 5.
