GI-tagged Indi Lime export boosts agri market access under CEPA, aided by GI status and APEDA support.
GI-tagged Indi Lime exports from Vijayapura have begun entering new international markets, leveraging the product's Geographical Indication status, APEDA-supported promotion and adherence to global quality and phytosanitary standards to improve farmer incomes and access premium channels; these market entries are linked to the expanded market access opportunities anticipated under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership framework.

China allows rare-earth exports; WTO consultations with India requested; Nepal amends election law; Sri Lanka fund tops $13.8M.
China approved export of rare-earth metals for civilian use and filed for WTO consultations with India over ICT and solar tariffs and subsidies; Nepal's president issued an ordinance amending the general election law; Sri Lanka's cyclone recovery fund exceeded USD 13.8 million; reports note a UK Foreign Office cybersecurity breach, violence against a Hindu minority in Bangladesh, ongoing investigations into deaths abroad, a defence bill broadening US-India engagement, and reported plans to revoke some naturalised citizenships.

China to approve exports of rare-earth metals for civilian use, with controls to prevent defence diversion.
China will approve the export of rare-earth metals for civilian use, subject to permits and export controls to prevent diversion to defence applications; authorities have begun issuing general export licenses after lifting earlier curbs, framing controls as non-discriminatory and aligned with international non-proliferation practice to preserve supply-chain stability.

China requests WTO consultations with India over ICT tariffs and solar subsidies, alleging breaches of national treatment and prohibited subsidies.
China requested WTO consultations with India challenging Indian tariffs on ICT products and solar sector subsidies, alleging breaches of WTO obligations including denial of national treatment and the provision of import substitution subsidies prohibited under WTO rules, and urging India to adjust these measures to meet its WTO commitments.

Jute industry: call to ban export of HYV jute seeds and impose licence-based import controls to protect domestic mills.
Millers request that HYV jute seeds be treated as a strategic agricultural input, impose a complete ban on jute seed exports, and require licence-based regulation of jute goods imports administered by the Office of the Jute Commissioner to protect domestic raw-material supply and the jute industry.

Canada-US trade talks to review USMCA start mid-January to tackle tariffs, sectoral relief, and market-access issues.
Canada and the United States will begin formal mid-January talks to review the USMCA, led by Dominic LeBlanc, aiming to resolve tariff measures and secure sectoral tariff relief for steel, aluminum, autos and lumber, while addressing US concerns over Canadian market access in dairy, alcohol and digital services; access to Canada's critical minerals is presented as a negotiable opportunity and federal-provincial coordination will inform Canada's negotiating stance.

IndiGo seeks refund of over Rs 900 crore customs duty on aircraft engines and parts re imported after overseas repairs.
A customs duty refund claim by a major airline seeks recovery of over Rs 900 crore paid on aircraft engines and parts re imported after overseas repairs, directly raising re importation treatment and tariff liability issues; the schedule also lists multiple criminal and oversight proceedings including pleas on alleged illegal phone tapping, online betting, and sanction orders authorising prosecution.

Lokpal sanction, customs duty refund claim, and legislative privilege summons are scheduled for hearing Friday.
Three matters include: a challenge to Lokpal-authorised sanction allowing CBI to file a chargesheet in an alleged cash-for-query case (sanction for prosecution); an airline's claim for refund of over Rs 900 crore customs duty on engines and parts re-imported after overseas repairs (customs duty refund on re-importation); and a challenge to legislative Privilege Committee summons over the 'phansi ghar' controversy (legislative privilege and scope of summons).

India-Oman free trade pact grants duty-free access to 98% of exports but protects sensitive domestic items.
India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement granting duty free access to about 98% of India's exports while India retained a sensitive list excluding agricultural items, dairy, chocolates, gold, silver, jewellery, footwear, and sports goods to protect domestic farmers and MSMEs.

India-Oman CEPA grants zero-duty access for many Indian agricultural and processed food products, while India offers concessions on dates and traditional Omani products.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement grants zero-duty treatment on a wide range of Indian agricultural and processed food products-including honey, fresh eggs, cashew, rice varieties, potatoes, onions, soybean meal, bakery and confectionery items, seafood products, frozen boneless bovine meat, fertilised eggs and guargum-replacing prior duties of 5-100% and aligning India's access with other major exporters. India reciprocates with zero-duty access for a specified annual quantity of dates and concessions for Gum Arabica and Frankincense, reinforcing India's market shares and competitive parity in Oman.

US tariffs' impact on Indian carpet industry threatens livelihoods and exports, prompting calls for targeted policy and economic support.
The United States' tariff policy has severely harmed multiple Indian industries, notably Bhadohi's handloom carpet sector, causing export declines, relocation of production to competing countries, and serious economic distress for artisans. The government has not implemented a coordinated trade or revival strategy to mitigate these effects. The proposed response is targeted policy and economic support to restore competitiveness and market access for small producers and artisans, returning commercial power to small businesses and reviving employment and local economic identity.

India Oman CEPA grants duty free access to 98% of Indian exports and reduces tariffs on specified Omani goods.
The document records a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) under which Oman will provide duty free access to 98% of India's exports, including textiles, agricultural and leather goods, while India will reduce tariffs on Omani products such as dates, marble and petrochemical items; the agreement is expected to come into force in the first quarter of the next calendar year.

India-Oman trade pact grants duty-free access for labour-intensive exports and broad services and mobility commitments.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) grants Oman's near-universal duty-free access to Indian exports, covers major labour-intensive sectors, and uses tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for sensitive products; it also secures extensive services liberalisation and expanded Mode 4 movement including higher intra-corporate transferee quotas and longer stays for contractual service suppliers, with future social security talks conditional on Oman's system implementation.

Trade pact increases intra company transfer quota to 50% and extends permitted stays for contractual service suppliers.
The CEPA increases the quota for Intra-Corporate Transferees from 20% to 50% and lengthens permitted stays for contractual service suppliers from 90 days to two years with a possible further two year extension under Mode 4, extends liberalisation across 127 services sub sectors including computer and professional services, provides for 100% foreign direct investment by Indian companies in major services sectors through commercial presence, and contemplates future negotiation of a bilateral social security agreement; it also requires parity if more liberal nationalisation terms are given to other South Asian countries.

India-Oman CEPA expands tariff-free access and services commitments, boosting mobility and 100% FDI opportunities for Indian exporters and professionals.
The India-Oman CEPA provides extensive tariff concessions with Oman offering zero-duty access on 98.08% of its tariff lines (covering 99.38% of India's exports) while India grants liberalisation on 77.79% of its tariff lines with exclusions and TRQs for sensitive items. The services package covers 127 sub-sectors with enhanced Mode 4 mobility, extended stays and increased intra-corporate transferee quotas, alongside 100% FDI in major services via commercial presence. The Agreement also advances regulatory cooperation through mutual recognition, fast-tracked pharmaceutical authorisations, GMP acceptance, and a comprehensive commitment on Traditional Medicine.

India-Oman free trade pact provides duty-free access to 98% of India's exports and opens new investment opportunities.
The India-Oman CEPA provides duty free access for 98% of Indian exports, including textiles, agricultural and leather goods, to expand market access and stimulate bilateral trade and investment; it aims to diversify commercial ties into green energy, agri tech, fintech, AI and cyber security and proposes cooperative mechanisms such as an Agri Innovation Hub and an Innovation Bridge. The announcement links the agreement's commercial potential to domestic reforms-GST and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code-as measures that enhance policy predictability and investor confidence.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement expands market access and investment cooperation, strengthening trade diversification and supply-chain resilience.
The signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) establishes a free trade framework to expand market access and promote investments, enhance trade diversification and strengthen supply-chain resilience, while fostering cooperation across key sectors such as energy, agriculture, technology and manufacturing.

India's trade pact with Oman formally opens market access for traditional medicines and sets cooperative licensing and standards measures.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Oman includes a dedicated annex recognising trade in health-related and traditional medicine services and establishes a novel commitment to extend market access for traditional medicines across all modes of supply. The annex provides for cooperation on licensing and qualification procedures, digital licensing examinations, medical value travel facilitation, capacity building, standards harmonisation and joint research. The Ministry of Ayush's international promotion scheme is identified to support manufacturers and service providers, noting Ayush export growth from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 1.54 billion in 2020.

Trade pact subject: India excludes dairy, gold, jewellery and labour intensive goods from duty concessions; some items use TRQ quotas.
India's CEPA with Oman places dairy, tea, coffee, rubber, tobacco, gold, silver, jewellery, footwear, sports goods, chocolates and various metal scraps in an exclusion category with no duty concessions to protect domestic farmers and MSMEs. For other sensitive but export relevant goods the pact applies tariff rate quotas: preferential duties up to specified annual quotas, beyond which normal import duty applies; examples include dates (2,000 tonnes duty free), marble and petrochemical products, and Omani acceptance of marble block imports.

Free trade agreement expands duty-free access to most exports and enhances services mobility and investment opportunities.
The free trade agreement establishes zero-duty access on over 98 percent of one party's tariff lines covering 99.38 percent of exports, with immediate elimination on 97.96 percent of product categories; reciprocal liberalisation covers 77.79 percent of the other party's tariff lines covering 94.81 percent of imports by value. Sensitive products are protected through exclusions or tariff-rate quotas. The treaty also secures comprehensive services commitments and an enhanced Mode 4 mobility framework, including higher intra-corporate transferee quotas, extended stays for contractual service suppliers, and 100 percent foreign direct investment for commercial presence in major services sectors.