Northeast India Organic Week spotlights regional organic trade, new processing capacity and a target of 100,000 hectares certified by 2028.
Meghalaya hosted Northeast India Organic Week to boost regional organic trade and exports, showcasing a new Rs 25 crore ginger processing facility, promoting a hub and spoke value chain model linking village centres to processing hubs, and targeting 100,000 hectares under certified organic agriculture by 2028. The event emphasised strengthening certification under the National Programme for Organic Production, discussed labelling norms and NPOP regulations, featured buyer seller meetings and exhibitions of certified products, and highlighted measures for climate resilience and improved last mile connectivity to scale market access and processing capacity.

Indian tea sector urged to develop new varieties, adopt traceability technologies, and pursue sustainable, value added growth for growers.
The Minister urges development of new internationally competitive tea varieties and signature blends through sustained research and innovation to boost export competitiveness and farmer returns; adoption of technology for end-to-end traceability (including blockchain) and world-class testing; promotion of sustainable farming, eco-friendly packaging, mechanisation, skilling, and value addition; and deployment of policy, financial (Rs.1,000-crore package) and digital measures to support small growers and strengthen India's tea sector.

India-US trade talks seek a framework deal to resolve reciprocal 25% tariffs and boost exports this year.
India seeks a framework trade deal with the US to resolve reciprocal 25% tariffs-one tied to lack of a bilateral agreement and one tied to Russian oil purchases. Two parallel negotiations continue (a framework on tariffs and a comprehensive trade deal); negotiators say only a political decision remains to find a landing zone. The framework will enable export benefits only when both tariffs are addressed, and India insists on certain non negotiable sensitivities while linking trade outcomes to Foreign Direct Investment objectives.

India pursuing multiple trade agreements with the US, EU, GCC, EAEU, Canada and regional blocs to expand market access.
India is pursuing a multi-track programme of trade negotiations, including ongoing talks with the US and EU, engagement with the GCC (with a UAE agreement implemented and Oman near completion), and negotiations or interest from EAEU, Canada on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, Mercosur, SACU, Israel, New Zealand, and reviews of ASEAN and Korea pacts; the agenda focuses on tariff reductions, market access, investment and mobility provisions to expand preferential trade frameworks.

Arfin India Limited posts strong FY2024-25 results, secures a Rs. 180 crore supply contract and signals capacity and export expansion.
Arfin India Limited reported improved FY 2024-25 financials-14% gross sales growth to Rs. 709.2 crore, 19% EBITDA growth to Rs. 38.3 crore, exports up 27%-and secured a ~Rs. 180 crore supply contract for ~6,900 MT to be executed Oct 2025-Mar 2026, supporting higher capacity utilisation and a strategy focused on product premiumisation, operational efficiency, export expansion, renewable energy use and R&D, which collectively supported reaffirmed investment grade credit ratings.

India-US trade talks aim to address punitive tariffs and restore market access while expanding technology cooperation including AI.
Negotiations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement focus on addressing recently imposed high US tariffs (including a 50% tariff and an additional 25% levy on certain crude oil imports) to restore market access for Indian exporters. The first phase of the agreement is reported as nearing closure and seeks tariff relief and resolution of US market access issues. Concurrently, the agenda includes a structured strategic trade dialogue and expanded technology cooperation, explicitly covering artificial intelligence, alongside consideration of trade data showing export declines linked to the tariffs.

Rare earth magnet manufacturing scheme approved with Rs 7,280 crore incentives to build 6,000 MTPA capacity.
The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) with a Rs 7,280 crore outlay comprising Rs 6,450 crore in sales-linked incentives over five years and Rs 750 crore in capital subsidy to establish 6,000 MTPA of REPM manufacturing, targeting commissioning in two to three years, meeting an estimated 4,000 MTPA domestic requirement and enabling surplus exports.

Rare earth permanent magnets manufacturing: Cabinet approval to build domestic ecosystem, reduce imports and expand rail and metro.
Cabinet approval establishes an integrated ecosystem for domestic manufacture of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets to build local capacity and reduce imports, with emphasis on green technologies. The Cabinet also authorised two multi-tracking rail projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat to improve mobility, operational efficiency, multimodal connectivity and logistics, and approved Phase 2 of the Pune Metro (Lines 4 and 4A) to expand urban public transport.

Afghan-India trade ties: initiation of air freight corridors, embassy commercial reps, and plans to boost bilateral commerce.
Ministers agreed to initiate an air freight corridor on Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar, reactivate the Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment, explore collaboration in mining and high-value sectors, and pursue trade facilitation, market access, connectivity, capacity-building and long-term supply arrangements for agricultural products, medicines and essential commodities; India and Afghanistan will depute commercial representatives at embassies and institutionalise a joint chamber of commerce, with a commercial attache expected to arrive.

Hainan Free Trade Port expands island-wide customs operations and broadens zero-tariff coverage to 74% and consolidates tax policies.
Hainan Free Trade Port will commence island-wide special customs operations with an established framework and infrastructure; current tax measures will be consolidated into 17 policies, including ten "zero-tariff" policies, two VAT refund measures, stamp duty exemptions for offshore trade, four income tax policies including the dual 15% cap, and a shift to negative list management increasing zero-tariff coverage from 21% to 74%.

India's green economy could attract $4.1 trillion and create 48 million jobs by 2047, per a national study.
The study projects that India could attract USD 4.1 trillion in cumulative green investments and create 48 million full-time equivalent jobs by 2047, identifying 36 green value chains across energy transition, circular economy, bio-economy and nature-based solutions. Energy transition is estimated to draw USD 3.79 trillion and 16.6 million FTE jobs-with electric mobility the largest employer-while bio-economy and nature-based solutions could create about 23 million FTE jobs and unlock USD 415 billion. Policy stability, blended finance and whole-of-government coordination are identified as essential enablers.

International sellers face higher costs and lost US sales after removal of the de minimis exemption, prompting mitigation measures.
Removal of the de minimis exemption now subjects low value cross border parcels to import tariffs, brokerage fees and state taxes, increasing costs for sellers and consumers; sellers have responded by absorbing duties, raising shipping charges, shifting focus to domestic customers, using prepaid duty tools, and diversifying fulfillment to manage reduced US demand.

China's pressure on Japan is causing tourist cancellations and may trigger broader trade and cultural disruptions.
China has used a travel advisory and covert, sequential measures as economic coercion against Japan, producing cancellations and sectoral disruptions in tourism, entertainment, publishing, and exports. The actions replicate past patterns of trade and import restrictions employed to signal displeasure, with authorities keeping further steps confidential and allowing calibrated escalation. The measures create immediate demand- and supply-side impacts, prompt private compliance or self-censorship among business actors, and risk sustained macroeconomic effects while resolution depends on political developments rather than short-term economic adjustments.

Jair Bolsonaro begins serving a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt and related offences.
Jair Bolsonaro has begun serving a 27-year prison term after appeals were deemed exhausted in proceedings finding him responsible for an attempted coup, leadership of an armed criminal organisation, and attempts to abolish democratic governance; a supervising justice ordered his detention at the federal police headquarters and denied defence requests for house arrest.

Hydroponic weed and gold seizures at Mumbai airport lead to arrests under NDPS Act and customs investigations.
Customs intercepted passengers arriving from Bangkok and seized a total of 32.698 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis-10.899 kg in three cases and 21.799 kg in four cases-valued at about Rs 32.698 crore; eight passengers were arrested under the NDPS Act and investigations continue. Separately, three gold-smuggling cases recovered 608 grams of 24 carat gold valued at about Rs 73.46 lakh, with customs investigations and procedural follow-up underway.

Afghan India trade visit advances air freight corridors, embassy commercial reps, and a joint chamber to boost economic ties.
Both countries committed to deepen economic engagement by reactivating a Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment, stationing commercial representatives at embassies, and institutionalising a joint chamber of commerce and industry; they announced air freight corridors on Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar routes and discussed market access, trade facilitation, connectivity, capacity building, sectoral collaboration in mining and high value sectors, and long term supply arrangements for agricultural products and medicines.

India begins FTA talks with the Russia-led EAEU to diversify export markets and bolster MSME, farm and fisheries trade.
India will begin formal negotiations with the Russia-led EAEU under Terms of Reference establishing an 18 month work plan to negotiate an FTA intended to diversify export markets and support MSMEs, farmers and fishermen; the EAEU members are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Parallel initiatives include potential talks with the Southern African Customs Union, a second phase of a preferential trade agreement with Mercosur, and upcoming virtual negotiations with Israel on an early harvest trade agreement covering agriculture technology, innovation, mobility and services.

Joining RCEP requires submitting an accession questionnaire and involves tariff elimination commitments to expand export markets.
The government approved completing and submitting the RCEP initial accession questionnaire to allow current parties to evaluate the applicant's compliance with the agreement's provisions; accession entails commitments including elimination of tariffs on roughly 85-90% of tariff lines and is intended to support export diversification and integration into regional supply chains.

India's export strategy focuses on Centre-State partnership, digital trade facilitation, and targeted support for exporters and MSMEs.
The Export Promotion Mission will deliver targeted schemes to boost competitiveness in landlocked States and create a system-driven framework with government, industry and academia; the Ministry is expanding digital trade infrastructure-notably the Trade Connect ePlatform and digital Certificates of Origin-and DGFT is pursuing fully digital, paperless trade-facilitation services to simplify procedures for exporters, especially MSMEs, while the RoDTEP scheme is extended to March 31, 2026 to provide predictability and support market diversification and FTA-driven opportunities.

BIS Quality Control Orders strengthen manufacturing quality, jobs and export readiness across foodservice engineering sector, driving global competitiveness.
The Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders establish mandatory safety and performance standards for commercial foodservice and kitchen equipment, requiring manufacturers to adopt standardised production and quality-assurance processes; compliance enhances export readiness, reduces import dependence, and stimulates skilled employment across engineering, fabrication, servicing, and component manufacturing.