Latest Trade negotiations News & Updates

Washington, July 9 (IANS) The European Union has rejected suggestions that shifting US trade policies under President Donald Trump drove the conclusion of its landmark free trade agreement with India, saying the pact was the result of years of political commitment and a shared strategic vision rather than short-term geopolitical developments.The remarks came after Christophe Kiener, the European Union’s chief negotiator for the agreement, on Wednesday (local time) pushed back against a suggestio…

Washington, July 8 (IANS) India argued on Wednesday that the U.S. Trade Representative’s proposed Section 301 tariff framework contradicts its own objective of eliminating forced labour by exempting certain products while seeking broad import restrictions on countries including India, urging Washington to pursue bilateral dialogue instead of sweeping trade measures. The argument was made by Dr. Brij Mohan of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during a public hearing after a USTR official ques…

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday asked domestic toy manufacturers to capitalise on expanding global market access and target a 10-fold increase in exports over the next four years, while assuring the industry that the government will not dilute mandatory quality standards.Addressing the 17th edition of Toy Biz International B2B Expo here, the minister said the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for toys would continue as they have helped improv…

Washington, June 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France next week, during which both leaders are expected to review progress in negotiations on a proposed India-US trade agreement, a senior administration official confirmed on Saturday. The White House said Saturday that Trump will meet PM Modi on Wednesday, June 17, during the G-7 Summit in Evian, France, as part of a series of engagements wi…

Washington, June 6 (IANS) After nearly two decades of covering the White House, I have learned that no two Oval Office events are ever the same. Every US President has a different style. Every appearance has its own rhythm. And every question carries the possibility of producing an unexpected moment. This week, one such moment unfolded in a way I could not have anticipated.Having had the privilege of covering President Donald Trump during both of his terms in office, I have had the opportunity t…

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) A United States trade team is expected to visit India next week to take forward ongoing negotiations between the two countries, with both sides maintaining positive and constructive engagement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and the US had earlier held discussions in April when an Indian trade team visited the United States, adding that the next round of talks will continue during the upcoming visit.“We…

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) India and South Korea have decided to create dedicated sub-groups to deepen discussions on digital trade, supply chain cooperation and strategic industrial collaboration as part of efforts to upgrade the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK CEPA), it was announced on Thursday.The talks were conducted pursuant to the Joint Declaration signed on April 20 by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo durin…

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Canada, which concluded on Thursday, marks the first real commercial test of the India-Canada reset that began during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s March 2026 visit to India, with the two countries trying to move the relationship back toward a more structured economic footing, according to an article in India Narrative.Goyal met Prime Minister Carney, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Foreign Minister A…

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The US team for trade talks, led by the Chief Negotiator, will be visiting India next month from June 1-4 to finalise the details of the interim agreement and take forward the negotiations under the broader bilateral trade agreement on multiple areas such as market access, non-tariff measures, customs and trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic security alignment, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday.India and the United States issued a j…

Washington, May 17 (IANS) US President Donald Trump returned from a high-profile summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping facing growing questions over whether the closely watched meeting produced any major strategic breakthroughs between the world’s two largest powers, according to experts. The two-day summit dominated Sunday political talk shows in the US, where officials, analysts and critics debated the significance of Trump’s China trip amid rising tensions over Taiwan, trade, Ir…