Raw cashew production rise risks a demand-supply gap; policy emphasizes area expansion and replacing senile plantations.
Raw cashew production reached an all time high in 2017-18 at 8.17 lakh metric tonnes yet remains below the estimated domestic requirement of 17 lakh metric tonnes, producing a potential demand-supply gap. Government horticulture programmes propose massive area expansion and replacement of senile plantations with high yielding varieties to increase domestic supply; accompanying production, export and import statistics for recent years are reported, with 2017-18 trade figures provisional.

Restrictions on gold imports tighten licensing and impose self use and export limits, reducing gold import volumes.
Measures impose targeted controls on gold imports through: restriction on duty free imports under India Korea CEPA; a self use condition on designated trading houses authorised to import directly; conditioning refinery import licences on a valid BIS licence via DGFT notices; and restriction on export of jewellery above 22 carats (excluding legal tender). DGFT notifications and trade notices implement these administrative controls and reported trade data are cited to show a reduction in imports in Apr-May 2018 compared with the prior year period.

Services sector growth driving export expansion with targeted support for champion sectors and a dedicated fund.
India's exports showed strong growth in 2017-18 and the services sector is identified as the chief driver of future expansion. The Commerce Ministry has named a set of champion services sectors and the Cabinet approved a dedicated fund to support sectoral initiatives. Policy measures include market diversification, trade facilitation for services exports, and enabling professional mobility to ensure high quality delivery of exported services.

Exchange rate determination establishes official conversion rates for import and export valuation under customs law, effective as notified.
Determination of exchange rates for valuation of imported and export goods under the Customs Act fixes distinct rupee equivalents for listed foreign currencies, set out in two annexed schedules that distinguish single unit and hundred unit quotations. The notification supersedes the prior board notification except for past actions and prescribes an effective date from which the specified rates govern customs conversion, requiring customs authorities and stakeholders to adopt those schedule rates for duties, declarations, and other customs processes dependent on foreign currency conversion.

Export commodity status of Indian coffee drives market prices as rising international demand increases export revenues.
Indian coffee is chiefly an export commodity with rising shipments and export revenues over a three-year period; exports constitute the majority of production while domestic consumption is about one-quarter to one-third and does not materially affect domestic prices. The account, including annual export quantities and values and noted demand from various foreign markets, was provided in a ministerial written reply in the legislature.

Trade facilitation aims to reduce customs transaction costs while strengthening risk management and cross-border security.
India assumed the Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Region for the WCO, committing to advance trade facilitation by reducing customs transaction costs and delays, while strengthening risk management and supply chain security. The operative measures emphasised include adoption of AEO, Direct Port Delivery and advance import filing, harnessing technology and WCO tools, and implementing the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan to improve connectivity, consensus and efficient cargo clearance across the region.

Bilateral economic cooperation: India and Oman pursue expanded investment, trade and sectoral partnerships to deepen commercial ties.
The 8th India Oman Joint Commission Meeting focused on deepening bilateral economic cooperation by promoting cross border investment and expanding trade across priority sectors-energy, renewable energy, space, health, infrastructure, tourism, services, SMEs, start ups, and food security-while encouraging private sector engagement and people to people links. It recorded trade growth, noted the presence of Indian financial institutions and public sector enterprises in Oman, and described the India Oman Joint Investment Fund as an operational special purpose vehicle that completed its initial corpus and has raised further funds for subsequent investment tranches.

Customs leadership secures regional vice chair role, advancing trade facilitation and e commerce standards across Asia Pacific administrations.
India assumed the Vice Chair role for the Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organization to promote regional leadership in trade facilitation and cross border security. A ceremony and seminar convened customs delegations, partner agencies and trade representatives to discuss WCO led standards addressing e commerce parcel flows, clearance efficiency, and cooperative measures for customs administrations.

Trade deficit widened as imports-especially oil-outpaced export growth, increasing the overall trade imbalance.
Merchandise exports in June 2018 and cumulatively for April-June 2018-19 rose year on year in dollar and rupee terms, with non petroleum and non gems & jewellery exports also increasing. Imports grew faster, led by a substantial rise in oil imports linked to higher Brent prices; non oil imports increased modestly. Services receipts and payments for May 2018 both declined in dollar terms, though services registered a net export. Overall, the combined merchandise and services trade deficit for April-June 2018-19 widened versus the prior year.

Selection of Technology Partner through open tender for conducting computer-based examinations; RFP available on public procurement portal.
Selection of a Technology Partner via open tender to provide technical and infrastructural support for conducting computer based examinations; bidders are invited under a Request for Proposal available on the public procurement portal with specified submission procedures and a bid deadline.

National policy on e commerce: Task Force to prepare recommendations on data flows, taxation and competition.
A Task Force has been constituted to develop a national policy on e commerce, organized into nine sub groups to prepare recommendations on cross border data flows, taxation, trade facilitation and logistics, consumer confidence and protection, intellectual property and emerging technologies, foreign direct investment, and competition issues, with inputs from multiple ministries, industry representatives and experts; the Task Force's suggestions will be submitted to the Think Tank for consideration.

Exchange rate determination for import and export goods establishes official currency conversion rates for customs valuation.
Exchange rate determination under the Customs Act prescribes distinct rupee conversion rates for listed foreign currencies for import and export goods, set out in two schedules: Schedule I with multiple currencies showing separate import and export rates, and Schedule II providing the rate for the Japanese yen per one hundred units; the notification supersedes the earlier notification except as to prior actions and applies for customs valuation and related statutory purposes.

Minimum Support Price increases to align MSPs with cost-plus principle, backed by procurement and market reforms to raise farmer incomes.
Increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for kharif crops for 2018-19 raises MSPs across cereals, pulses, oilseeds and cotton to align with the Budget principle of at least 150% of production cost, based on CACP recommendations; procurement and price-support will be undertaken by designated central and state agencies (FCI, NAFED, SFAC, CCI) and the cost definition includes paid-out and imputed family labour, with complementary measures-insurance premium subsidies, e-NAM, Soil Health Cards, PKVY, irrigation scheme, producer organisations, buffer stocks and market reforms-aimed at improving farmer incomes.

Tariff concessions under APTA expanded and implemented, increasing preferential coverage and deeper margins for members and LDCs.
Implementation of the Fourth Round tariff concessions under APTA took effect on 1 July 2018, expanding preferential tariff coverage and deepening the average Margin of Preference; the Round also applies special and differential treatment granting larger concessions to Least Developed Country members, and India exchanged reciprocal concessions and additional LDC-specific concessions.