Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement negotiations to expand trade and investment while advancing clean energy and WTO cooperation.
Negotiation and early conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), building on implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), including resolution of bilateral technical market access issues to expand trade and investment. Ministers also committed to coordinated engagement in the G20 and IPEF, cooperation on a smooth clean energy transition toward net zero, and strengthening the World Trade Organization, including restoring a fully functioning dispute settlement system.

Commercial Dialogue creates ministerial and working level mechanisms to strengthen supply chains and tech cooperation between the countries.
The re launched Commercial Dialogue creates ministerial and working level mechanisms-including a Semiconductor Sub committee, Strategic Trade Dialogue, iCET standing mechanism, and a Talent Working Group-to implement a ministerial roadmap, coordinate regulatory alignment, address export controls and high technology commerce, strengthen supply chain resilience, enhance cyber security and trusted telecommunications, and advance clean energy, standards cooperation, and SME/start up engagement ahead of a mid year review.

Commercial Dialogue renewal strengthens bilateral commercial cooperation, including semiconductor partnership and joint supply chain diversification and clean energy collaboration.
The India US Commercial Dialogue was relaunched to advance resilient supply chains, critical and emerging technology cooperation, and SME/startup investment. Key operative measures include an MoU establishing a semiconductor supply chain and innovation partnership, cooperation under iCET, interest in secure pharmaceutical manufacturing and critical mineral diversification, and coordination with national infrastructure plans. Sectoral mechanisms were created or relaunched: a Talent, Innovation and Inclusive Growth Working Group, a Travel and Tourism Working Group, a Standards and Conformance Program between ANSI and BIS, and a Strategic Trade Dialogue, alongside a planned US clean energy trade mission and industry energy platform.

Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement expands market access and lowers tariffs, prompting businesses to scale cross border investment.
Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) expands market access and reduces trade barriers between India and Australia, enabling increased bilateral trade and investment. Government and industry leaders urge businesses to scale cross border activity and reset growth ambitions to capitalise on complementary demand. A government convened CEO Forum and an extended MoU between industry councils create institutional channels for coordinating investment, sectoral collaboration, and policy dialogue across priority sectors such as telecom, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, banking, IT, auto, and mining.

Self-regulation demands robust governance and neutrality to protect market integrity and retail forex customers under a principle-based regime.
SROs complement statutory regulation by setting conduct standards, operational guidelines, dispute-resolution frameworks and training, but must maintain robust governance and objectivity to preserve market integrity and protect customers. FEDAI historically set inter bank conventions and assisted adoption of global codes; current priorities include ensuring fair transparent pricing for retail/MSME customers, streamlining SRO guidelines to reflect regulatory simplification, warning against unauthorised trading platforms, and preparing members for greater responsibility under a principle based framework and evolving market structures.

Commercial Dialogue to relaunch strengthening trade and investment cooperation, focusing on supply chain resilience and digital trade.
The India-USA Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum are being relaunched during the US Secretary of Commerce's visit to New Delhi as coordinated government and private sector mechanisms to facilitate trade and maximize investment opportunities. The relaunch emphasizes a strategic focus on supply chain resiliency and diversification, emerging sector cooperation, energy security with emissions reduction, inclusive digital trade, and post pandemic recovery support for small businesses, aiming to unlock new bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

SEZ redevelopment review prompts launch of enhanced project website to improve investor and user access.
A ministerial review was conducted of redevelopment projects at the Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ), focusing on project progress, infrastructure redevelopment priorities, stakeholder engagement, and measures to enhance operational efficiency and investor access; concurrently SEEPZ launched a redesigned public website with an improved user interface and enhanced online features to facilitate access to project information, services, and resources.

Export credit insurance expansion urged to widen high-risk cover, enhancing exporter protection and accelerating digitalisation.
The release emphasises ECGC's expanded Export Credit Insurance-currently providing up to 90% cover for exporters with a Rs. 20 crore credit limit-and records a ministerial request to raise that limit to Rs. 40 crore to broaden sectoral and MSME access. It stresses digitalisation, transparency of claims, adoption of a new IT system, high solvency maintenance, and improved claim disposal as operational priorities, linking these reforms to objectives of wider exporter inclusion, reduced financing costs, and export-promotion under Ministry oversight.

Electronic Data Interchange for Land Customs enables real-time data sharing to facilitate and monitor cross-border trade and transit.
Implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (ICES/EDI) at two Land Customs Stations enables real-time data sharing to facilitate, track and monitor bilateral and transit trade, expedite electronic filing of documents, and support trade with land-locked neighbouring countries. The digitalisation push complements border security efforts against illicit trade, aims to extend EDI coverage across remaining stations, and contemplates future common documentation and international interoperability to enhance cross-border trade facilitation and compliance.

Tea Development and Promotion reforms expand small grower support and export branding while improving disbursement transparency.
Measures focus on producer support, export promotion, branding, quality control, and governance. For Small Tea Growers the package includes formation and capacity building of producer groups, mechanisation assistance, mini tea factories, a mobile price information app, and an education stipend; a Price Sharing Formula for green leaf pricing is under tender. Export measures include buyer seller meets, enhanced export incentive rates, branding and logistical facilitation. Stakeholder consultation addresses regional quality and import competition concerns, including Darjeeling tea, and proposed amendments to the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme, 2021-26 are complemented by a "Service plus Portal" for transparent disbursement.

Composition fee simplification extends reduced rates for export obligation extensions under Advance Authorization, enabling automated transparent calculation.
Levy of Composition Fee for export obligation extensions and regularisation under the Advance Authorization Scheme is simplified by amending Para 4.42 via Public Notice No. 59, extending reduced fee treatment where DGFT allows EOP extension or regularisation. A CIF-based fee model with specific rate tiers replaces complex calculations to enable automation, reduce manual intervention and discrepancies, and streamline compliance and service delivery to further ease of doing business for exporters.

Quality management in spice exports boosted by a new appeal mechanism and exporter schemes to improve compliance and market access.
Spices Board emphasises market diversification, value addition, technology adoption and public private partnerships to strengthen the spices value chain; it introduced an appeal mechanism within the Quality Management System, released a compendium of exporter schemes, and ran a nationwide food safety campaign to improve compliance and export competitiveness.

Export policy of onions remains free, while seed exports are restricted and require authorisation under amended notification.
The export policy for onions is Free, with only onion seed exports Restricted and permitted subject to an authorisation requirement; a 2020 notification amended export classification to allow certain processed forms and specific varieties to be exported freely, and April-December 2022 monthwise data show aggregate export values and a year-on-year increase.

Policy repo rate rise signals continued withdrawal of accommodation to anchor persistent core inflation while supporting growth.
The MPC resolved to raise the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.50 per cent, adjust SDF, MSF and Bank Rate accordingly, and continue withdrawal of accommodation to ensure inflation is steered towards the medium term CPI target while supporting growth. The Committee detailed macro assessments showing resilient domestic activity, elevated core inflation despite recent headline moderation driven by vegetables, projection of higher near term inflation with gradual moderation, a GDP growth projection for the next year, articulation of upside and downside risks, and a recorded 4-2 vote split with individual member statements.

Research grant for indigenous LGD production to establish a national centre and boost domestic machinery seeds and recipes.
A five-year research grant funds establishment of the India Centre for Lab grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras with budget support to develop indigenous production of LGD machinery, critical seeds and documented recipes. The project focuses on promoting domestic manufacturing of CVD and HPHT systems, transferring technology to startups, providing affordable access to equipment and process parameters, and reducing import dependence to increase employment and exports.

Trade partnership strengthens export promotion of Indian agricultural and millet products to UAE through MoUs and market initiatives.
APEDA is exhibiting at Gulfood 2023 to promote exports of Indian agricultural and processed food products, emphasizing millets and value added RTE/RTS categories. The APEDA pavilion assembles exporters, conducts sampling, B2B interactions, and capacity building, and a Millet gallery highlights start ups. APEDA signed MoUs with UAE entities to facilitate procurement, distribution and supply chain linkages, aiming to strengthen market access and diversify exports to GCC and other regions.

Organic testing laboratory to be set up in Sikkim to boost exports, traceability, and packaging-led value addition
A high quality organic testing laboratory will be established in Sikkim to promote organic produce through farm to lab traceability and quality assurance, support export promotion, and dovetail with conditional placement of National Institute of Design and National Institute of Packaging campuses if land is provided by the State; implementation will leverage existing infrastructure, blockchain traceability, and enhanced design and packaging capacity to drive youth employment and value addition in spices, cardamom, homestays and organic farming.

Import restriction lift on frozen seafood enables resumption of exports after health reassessment and diplomatic engagement.
Qatar rescinded a temporary import restriction on frozen seafood from India after Vibrio cholera detections and limited local testing capacity prompted a November ban; Indian government and sector agencies engaged Qatar's Ministry of Public Health, leading to a February notification lifting the ban on frozen seafood while controls on chilled seafood remain pending reassessment.

Operational measures to deter smuggling: customs and DRI enhance profiling, inspections and multi-agency coordination nationwide.
Counter-smuggling operational measures deploy intelligence-led techniques-passenger profiling, risk based interdiction, targeted cargo scrutiny, non-intrusive inspection and aircraft rummaging-and circulate Modus Operandi Circulars to Customs and DRI units. Seizure and arrest data for gold and drugs are compiled to inform enforcement. Policy and coordination mechanisms include Narco coordination mechanisms, state anti-narcotics task forces and a multi-agency maritime security group to strengthen inter-agency and maritime interdiction efforts.

Agricultural export promotion through statutory institutional measures enhances market access and compliance for processed food exports.
APEDA, a statutory export-promotion body under the Ministry of Commerce, advances agricultural and processed food exports by expanding market access, building export infrastructure and digital services, and integrating producers and exporters through farmer-connect platforms and trade facilitation. It establishes quality, safety and traceability measures-including standards, residue monitoring protocols and laboratory recognition-and implements targeted programmes (GI promotion, millets, organic production Secretariat) and capacity building to align domestic production with importing-country requirements.