Bilateral trade agreement talks focus on final drafting, tariff recalibration, and broader market access negotiations.
India and the United States have largely finalised the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement, with remaining discussions focused on drafting details, legal wording, and adjustments needed to reflect changes in the US tariff environment. The two sides are working toward completion of the interim agreement and then broader negotiations on market access, non-tariff measures, customs and trade facilitation, investment promotion, and economic security alignment. The framework contemplates tariff reductions and expanded Indian purchases of US goods, while current talks may recalibrate the framework in light of changed tariff measures and Section 301 developments.

Customs duty exemption on cotton imports aims to ease input costs and improve raw material availability for the textile sector.
Temporary exemption from all customs duties on import of cotton is provided to improve cotton availability for the Indian textile sector during the specified period. The measure is intended to reduce input costs across the textile and apparel sector, support manufacturers and consumers, and balance the interests of domestic farmers. It is also expected to assist small and medium enterprises by easing raw material constraints.

India-Oman CEPA expands duty-free access, services commitments and trade facilitation across goods, investment and professional mobility.
The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on 1 June 2026, creating a framework for trade, services, investment, logistics and regulatory cooperation. The Agreement gives duty-free access to 99.38% of India's exports to Oman, while India liberalizes tariff lines with safeguards for sensitive sectors such as dairy, cereals, fruits, vegetables, edible oils, oilseeds, rubber, leather and spices. It also includes trade-facilitation measures, non-tariff barrier reduction, sector-specific market access and commitments on services and professional mobility.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement opens preferential market access for Indian exporters in Oman across key sectors.
India and Oman have brought into force their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, enabling preferential market access in Oman for Indian exporters in sectors such as textiles, leather, plastics, marine products, automobiles, sports goods and agri-items. The agreement was signed in Muscat on 18 December 2025 and entered into force on 1 June 2026, after completion of internal processes by both parties.

Seafood exports record growth as frozen shrimp drives India's overseas earnings and major markets stay strong.
India's seafood exports reached a record level in 2025-26, with frozen shrimp remaining the dominant export item and the main contributor to foreign exchange earnings. The Marine Products Export Development Authority reported that the United States, China, the European Union and Southeast Asia were major markets, while frozen fish, dried products, squid, cuttlefish, chilled products and live products also contributed to export earnings. Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kochi Port were the leading ports handling seafood cargo.

Aquaculture and export strategy drive stronger revenue, profitability, and a five-pillar execution framework for the next year.
Revenue from operations for FY 2025-26 increased to INR 162.15 crore, with EBITDA, profit before tax, and profit after tax also rising year on year. The company attributed the performance to focus on aquaculture and exports, disciplined cost management, and stronger farm-level operations. It also set out a five-pillar FY 2026-27 execution framework covering strategic alliances, consolidation, digitisation, monetisation, and optimisation.

Export business advances as Anondita Medicare secures first South African government condom supply order under tender framework.
Export business under a South African government procurement programme advanced when Anondita Medicare Limited secured its first export purchase order for male condoms from Supra Healthcare Johannesburg (Pty) Ltd. The order, valued at approximately INR 43.14 crore, covers supply and delivery equivalent to 50 forty-foot containers and is expected to be executed by 30 September 2026. The transaction marks the commencement of supplies under the approved South African tender framework and is described as strengthening the company's export business.

Revenue growth and record order book drive Exato Technologies' FY26 expansion, profitability gains, and global footprint.
Exato Technologies Limited reported strong FY26 consolidated financial performance, with revenue from operations rising 35% year-on-year and Profit After Tax increasing by 67% year-on-year. The company also disclosed a record order book of INR 600 crore, reflecting strong revenue visibility, and noted expansion through a wholly owned subsidiary in Australia alongside existing subsidiaries in the USA and Singapore.

Rising bond yields and debt sustainability concerns deepen affordability pressures and heighten political risk ahead of the mid-term elections.
Rising US bond yields and higher Treasury borrowing costs are intensifying affordability pressures, slowing growth expectations and increasing political risk as investors reassess the sustainability of government debt. Economists quoted in the report say the administration's stated deficit-reduction measures are unlikely to materially close the gap, while debt-service costs have already risen sharply and are projected to remain a major budget burden. Higher rates are feeding into mortgage costs, car sales weakness and broader voter concerns about living costs ahead of the mid-term elections.

Free trade agreement negotiations with India gain momentum as Canada seeks new market access for exporters and sector opportunities.
Canada and India are continuing negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement/Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement amid renewed bilateral engagement after talks stalled in 2023. Canadian officials said the negotiations remained active and could conclude later in the year, while the discussions are aimed at keeping Canadian businesses competitive and opening new markets for Canadian exporters. The summit also highlighted agricultural trade issues, including Canadian pulse exports and existing Indian duties on yellow peas and lentils.

Free trade agreement talks gain momentum as Canadian and Indian officials signal renewed optimism over a comprehensive partnership deal.
Canadian and Indian officials expressed optimism that negotiations on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would resume and advance after talks stalled in 2023, reflecting renewed bilateral engagement between the two countries. Public comments at a business summit indicated continuing discussions on a free trade agreement and confidence that a deal could be reached later in the year, alongside a broader push to expand bilateral trade.

UK-India trade and global security talks drive Yvette Cooper's visit to China and India amid wider cooperation plans.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is due to visit China and India for talks on global challenges, bilateral cooperation and the UK-India Vision 2035. The discussions are expected to cover the Strait of Hormuz, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak in Africa, while the India visit will include engagement with business, academia and government stakeholders linked to the free trade framework.

Onion growers' revival package demand centers on export stability, price protection, storage support and direct farmer assistance.
Onion growers in Maharashtra have sought a comprehensive revival package and a stable long-term export policy to address losses attributed to repeated export bans, export duty, minimum export price restrictions, buffer stock releases at low domestic prices, and crop damage from adverse weather, disease, spurious seeds and storage losses. The association also wants direct transfer of assistance into farmers' bank accounts, subsidies for certified seeds and storage infrastructure, and support for processing industries and farmer-owned value-added units.

Windfall gains tax on fuel exports reduced as export duties and cess are eased while domestic rates stay unchanged.
Windfall gains tax on export of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel was reduced from 1 June, with the levy on petrol cut to Rs 1.5 per litre, diesel reduced to Rs 13.5 per litre and aviation turbine fuel reduced to Rs 9.5 per litre. Road and infrastructure cess on export of petrol and diesel was made nil, while domestic duty rates on petrol and diesel remained unchanged.

Limited trade arrangement shapes India-EAEU free trade talks as negotiations on product-group liberalisation gain momentum.
India and the Eurasian Economic Union are discussing a limited and temporary trade arrangement covering selected groups of goods as part of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement. The arrangement is being considered as a product-group-based free trade zone rather than a full liberalisation package. The trade liberalisation process has gathered momentum, with Terms of Reference signed to launch negotiations and the first round of talks already held.

Gold exchange and import duty shape India's high gold import demand as consumers seek transparent valuation and lower cost buys.
India's gold imports remain high because domestic supply cannot meet demand for jewellery, investment, and seasonal purchases. Gold continues to serve as a cultural asset and family savings instrument, so demand persists even when prices rise. Rising prices and import duty have encouraged more consumers to use gold exchange, with organised jewellers gaining trust by offering transparent weighing, purity testing, separate stone valuation, and clear exchange practices that reduce dependence on freshly imported gold.

Special economic zones notified in Puducherry for IT/ITES and multi-sector development under the SEZ framework.
The government has notified two special economic zones in Puducherry for development under the SEZ framework. One is an IT/ITES SEZ proposed by Oulgaret Municipality at Thattanchavady village in Oulgaret Taluk, and the other is a multi-sector SEZ proposed by the Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation at Karasur village in Villianur Taluk. The proposals had already received approval from the Board of Approval for SEZs under the Department of Commerce.

Special Economic Zones in Puducherry expand industrial growth, investment, exports and employment through IT/ITES and multi-sector projects.
Two new Special Economic Zones were notified in Puducherry after approval by the Board of Approval for SEZs under the Department of Commerce. One is an IT/ITES SEZ to be developed by M/s Oulgaret Municipality at Thattanchavady village in Oulgaret Taluk, described as the first SEZ in India to be developed by an urban local body. The other is a multi-sector SEZ to be developed by M/s Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation at Karasur village in Villianur Taluk.

AI governance framework launch for secure adoption, operational oversight, and compliance alignment across enterprise AI systems.
A cybersecurity and standards body has launched the Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) AI Framework and a free AI Readiness Self-Assessment Tool to help organizations securely adopt, operationalize, and govern artificial intelligence at scale. The framework presents a unified governance structure with three pillars, 12 minimum controls, nine governance surfaces, implementation overlays, and accountability mechanisms for AI systems, agentic AI environments, multi-model architectures, and large language model ecosystems. It is designed to align with major global AI governance and security standards and reduce compliance fragmentation.

India-US trade negotiations near interim agreement as talks focus on market access, customs facilitation and investor confidence.
India-US trade negotiations advanced toward an interim agreement, with assurances that discussions are nearing finalisation. The engagement focused on bilateral trade, investment, innovation and supply-chain partnerships, alongside investor confidence, business stability and a predictable regulatory environment. Further talks are expected to address market access, non-tariff measures and customs facilitation under the broader bilateral trade framework.