New Delhi [India], September 15 (ANI): India has accelerated discussions on free trade agreements (FTAs) with key global partners, aiming to expand trade and secure long-term growth opportunities, according to official updates from the Commerce Ministry.
The country is actively negotiating trade agreements with nearly a dozen nations, including the United States, European Union, Australia, Sri Lanka, and several others. With the US, five rounds of negotiations have taken place. Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, is scheduled to arrive in India to continue talks for a Bilateral Trade Agreement alongside Indian counterparts. The discussions are set to continue on Tuesday, led by India’s chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agrawal. The previously planned round between August 25–29 was postponed.
Bilateral trade talks with the US are ongoing at multiple levels, including diplomatic channels, trade ministers, and chief negotiators, covering a range of trade and non-trade issues.
Significant progress is also being made with the European Union. The 13th round of India-EU FTA negotiations was held from September 8–12, 2025, featuring 75 technical sessions across sectors including agriculture, digital trade, market access, and intellectual property rights. EU Trade Commissioner and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food met senior Indian officials on September 11–12. The 14th round of talks is scheduled in Brussels from October 6–10, 2025.
With Australia, India is working to expand the scope of the existing Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) into a comprehensive FTA, with 11 formal rounds and various inter-sessional discussions completed. The most recent round was held in August.
India is also pursuing bilateral trade agreements with New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Chile, Korea, and Peru. Fourteen rounds of talks have taken place with Sri Lanka, the latest in July. With Oman, five rounds have concluded, and chapters for the final agreement have been finalized. Negotiations with Peru are planned for a 9th round in November, while talks with Chile are scheduled for a 4th round in October. India and Korea are working to upgrade the CEPA, with 11 rounds completed so far, the last in July.
Officials noted that the coming months will be critical, as the outcomes of these negotiations could reshape India’s role in global trade and influence its economic trajectory for the next decade. (ANI)
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