Strategic trade controls strengthened to streamline SCOMET export licensing and enhance industry compliance with non proliferation obligations.
India's Strategic Trade Controls framework regulates exports of dual use goods, software and technologies through a notified SCOMET list, a streamlined licensing regime, enforcement and supply chain compliance programs. The policy consolidates SCOMET procedures within the Foreign Trade Policy, clarifies application and documentary requirements for authorisations, and addresses Intangible Technology Transfers and emerging technologies to facilitate legitimate exports while upholding non proliferation obligations.

Joint Economic and Trade Committee to deepen bilateral trade cooperation and facilitate export growth and market access.
Approval of a protocol to create a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between India's Department of Commerce and the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs establishes a bilateral mechanism to enable regular discussion, information exchange and coordination to facilitate trade, improve market access, and address export challenges, with an aim to promote exports of pharmaceuticals, automobiles and engineering goods and to leverage broader Latin American and Caribbean market opportunities.

Illicit import enforcement: seizure of foreign-origin cigarettes for suspected customs duty evasion and packaging rule violations.
Seizure and investigation target large-scale illegal importation and domestic distribution of foreign-origin cigarettes stored without mandated statutory health warnings, suspected of Customs duty evasion and breach of packaging and labelling rules; authorities conducted searches of two shops and three godowns and have booked a case while valuation and stakeholder inquiries continue.

Production linked incentive schemes accelerate manufacturing competitiveness and export-led growth while boosting domestic value chains and employment.
PLI schemes use fiscal incentives tied to incremental production across 14 targeted sectors to attract investment, localise inputs and boost manufacturing competitiveness; reported effects include increased private investment, production and sales, export growth in high value-added goods, MSME participation as contract manufacturers, import substitution, domestic manufacture of intermediates and medical devices, improved farm and MSME incomes in food processing, and employment generation under the broader aim of economic self-reliance.

Trade facilitation platform to connect exporters with stakeholders and enable access to FTA benefits and export support.
The government will develop the Trade Connect ePlatform as an intermediary digital facility to connect Indian exporters, aspiring exporters, Startups and MSMEs with stakeholders, market access information, sectoral export trends, event access and expert advisory services, including streamlined guidance to obtain benefits under Free Trade Agreements; the platform is expected to be operational within three to four months.

Export growth driven by engineering, gems, electronics and pharmaceuticals amid an improved April-December trade deficit.
December 2023 merchandise exports showed modest year on year growth led by engineering goods, gems & jewellery, electronic goods and drugs & pharmaceuticals, while services exports are provisionally estimated to have declined. For April-December 2023 overall exports were slightly lower and imports fell more, producing a marked improvement in the overall trade deficit compared to April-December 2022. The release separates non petroleum/non gems trade and provides sectoral breakdowns; December services figures are provisional pending RBI data and some earlier period estimates have been revised pro rata.

Joint Facilitative Mechanism to mitigate non-tariff barriers agreed, enabling mutual recognition and reducing duplicative testing for traded goods.
Ministers agreed to establish a Joint Facilitative Mechanism to mitigate non-tariff barriers by pursuing mutual recognition of international laboratory results and bilateral mutual recognition arrangements, eliminating duplicative testing and reducing compliance costs for trade in high-quality goods. They also committed to joint initiatives on critical minerals, trade facilitation, supply chains and high-tech products, and addressed regulatory issues including a Social Security Totalization Agreement, seafood export measures, U.S. regulatory inspections in India, and consideration of beneficiary status under the Generalized System of Preferences subject to statutory eligibility.

Bilateral trade cooperation advances through mutual recognition of conformity assessments and roadmaps for resilient supply chains.
The Forum agreed operational measures to reduce technical trade barriers by pursuing mutual recognition of conformity assessment results via ILAC/IAF MRAs, establishing a Joint Facilitative Mechanism for priority sectors, and conducting technical collaboration (including Turtle Excluder Device demonstrations) to enable sustainable seafood trade; it also advanced regulatory cooperation in health and high tech sectors to improve inspections, market access, supply chain resilience, and intellectual property modernization.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement advances trade liberalisation, tariff reductions and investment pathways while enabling local currency settlement progress.
The India-UAE summit highlights CEPA's implementation-tariff reductions, elimination of non tariff barriers and broadened investment pathways-accompanied by a MoU to establish a Local Currency Settlement System (INR AED) to facilitate cross border transactions; complementary measures include the UAE India CEPA Council website, a CII startup convergence report, and initiatives on trade finance, investment facilitation and a proposed Bharat Mart warehousing facility.

Food processing expansion to boost farmer value, employment and export led growth while advancing quality, nutrition and sustainability.
Indus Food 2024 promotes scaling India's food processing sector through large scale processing, product branding and export focus to enhance farmer incomes, create employment and raise national earnings; it calls for emphasis on frozen, packaged and ready to eat goods, skill development, quality, nutrition, organic ingredients and eco friendly packaging, while leveraging One District One Product identifications and Geographical Indications to differentiate products and expand global market access.

Export ambition: industry urged to increase global market share as government backs mega mobility expo.
The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 is an industry led, government supported platform coordinated by EEPC India to showcase vehicle manufacturers, component makers, battery and EV infrastructure suppliers, and international pavilions. Emphasizing a whole of government approach, the initiative promotes innovation, sustainable mobility technologies and export ambition, and convenes specialized exhibitions, 13+ conferences and a CEO Conclave to drive collaboration, technology demonstration and increased access to global markets.

Customs duty increase and quality regulation strengthened to promote domestic toy manufacturing and boost exports.
The Government strengthened trade and product quality measures to expand domestic toy manufacturing and exports by implementing a coordinated National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT), raising Basic Customs Duty on toys, mandating consignment sample testing, issuing a Quality Control Order, permitting BIS licences for micro manufacturers without immediate in house testing, and supporting clusters, design tooling, and promotional initiatives to integrate domestic industry into global value chains.

Customs Brokers Licensing Examination: computer-based bilingual MCQ written test with negative marking and oral qualification requirement.
The Customs Brokers Licensing Examination is a computer based bilingual multiple choice written test with a +3/ 1 marking scheme and a prescribed qualifying threshold; candidates who meet the qualifying marks in the written component must appear for an oral examination conducted under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018, as amended, with its own pass percentage requirement.