India-EU summit set to conclude a free trade agreement and establish defence and professional mobility frameworks.
Negotiations are nearing conclusion on a free trade agreement to create an integrated India-EU market, alongside parallel negotiations on a strategic defence partnership and a framework for mobility of Indian professionals, with additional initiatives intended to broaden bilateral ties and mechanisms to address external economic and security policy disruptions.

India EU free trade agreement set to conclude, promising extensive tariff liberalisation, services liberalisation and regulatory cooperation.
India and the European Union are poised to announce the conclusion of a free trade agreement establishing comprehensive tariff and regulatory arrangements across goods, services and investment. The pact contemplates significant tariff liberalisation-including duty free access for many labour intensive Indian sectors-alongside quota or tariff rate quota mechanisms for sensitive items, exclusion of certain agricultural and dairy products, and complementary instruments on investment protection and Geographical Indications. Outstanding regulatory issues include the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and India's request for data transfer recognition under EU data protection rules.

European leaders unitedly refused U.S. demands over Greenland, defending sovereignty and rejecting economic coercion by an ally.
European leaders issued coordinated refusals to U.S. demands over Greenland, treating the issue as non-negotiable sovereignty and rejecting coercive bargaining between allies. Multiple governments publicly reaffirmed territorial integrity, condemned threats and linked a proposed U.S. tariff escalation to economic coercion tied to territorial demands. The collective response shifted European diplomacy from evasive engagement to unified refusal while balancing firm defence of legal norms with caution to avoid wider escalation.

Army officer's bail application examined amid allegations of bribery and potential influence over defence export approvals.
Consideration of a bail application for an Army officer accused of taking bribes and abusing his role in defence exports. Allegations assert conspiracy with private companies to secure undue favours for transport and approval of defence consignments, coordination with aviation and security authorities, and recovery of substantial unaccounted cash after searches. The court highlighted the security-sensitive nature of the officer's post and a real risk of influencing investigation or witnesses while the probe is at an early stage.

Immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis resulted in a fatal shooting amid claims of defensive shots and disputed on scene restraint.
Use of force by federal immigration officers during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis resulted in the fatal shooting of a 37 year old man after officers confronted him; federal officials said officers fired defensive shots when a handgun was involved and the subject resisted, while local authorities noted the man was believed to be a lawful permit holder and called for federal agencies to exercise discipline and humanity in operations.

Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian imports over Canada-China trade deal, escalating trade and strategic tensions.
President Donald Trump threatened a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian imports in response to Canada's new trade deal with China lowering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and reducing import taxes on Canadian farm products, framing the tariff as unilateral retaliation that interacts with existing USMCA protections and targets sectors like agriculture, automotive, energy, and metals while reflecting broader strategic concerns about market access and critical minerals.

Tariffs: US signals removal path for 25% India oil tariff, while 100% tariff threat against Canada looms.
The US Treasury Secretary signalled a possible process to remove a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil, while a US political leader threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian imports over a China trade deal, illustrating use and modification of unilateral tariff measures in trade policy.

Canada trade deal with China prompts threat of 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if agreement proceeds.
A foreign policy actor threatened imposition of a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian imports if Canada proceeds with a trade deal with China that lowers tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for reduced import taxes on Canadian farm products, framing Canada as a transit point for Chinese goods and proposing unilateral tariffs as a contingent countermeasure to influence Canadian trade policy.

US tariffs on India's Russian oil purchases may be lifted after Indian refinery imports collapsed, says Treasury Secretary.
The United States imposed a 25% tariff on crude oil imports from Russia as a trade-enforcement measure; the Treasury Secretary reports Indian refinery purchases of Russian crude have collapsed and there is a potential pathway to remove that 25% tariff, although the tariff remains in force.

India EU summit to finalise a free trade agreement, a strategic defence pact, and a professional mobility framework.
The summit will finalise a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement to govern tariff and non tariff measures, establish a Strategic Defence Partnership pact to structure defence cooperation and technology collaboration, and create a Mobility Framework to regulate movement of Indian professionals for services and employment across EU member states, all anchored on existing bilateral trade relations.

Tripura agarwood trade sees export caps raised and digitised approvals to scale economy to Rs 2,000 crore.
The policy changes raise agarwood export limits (chips from 25,000 to 1.50 lakh; oil from 1,500 kg to 75,000 kg), introduce digitised export approvals, permit traders to carry samples abroad, and support an Rs 80 crore cluster alongside BIS certification, GI tagging, and a 25 lakh tree planting target to expand Tripura's agarwood economy.

US foreign policy shifts toward leader-driven economic and diplomatic pressure, unsettling alliances and trade relationships.
President Trump's use of unilateral economic and diplomatic pressure - threatened tariffs, public rebukes, and rescinding multilateral invitations - is undermining the post war rules based order by injecting unpredictability into trade and security ties, straining NATO and allied trust, and prompting middle powers to pursue coordinated, legitimacy based responses while invoking Article 5 as a marker of collective defense obligations.

India's exports to the EU: suspension of GSP duty benefits affects 2.66% of exports for the 2026-2028 period.
The European Commission's regulation suspends specific tariff preferences under the EU Generalised System of Preferences for 2026-2028, entered into force 1 January 2026; agricultural lines remain eligible, leather is reinstated, and thirteen non agricultural sections are suspended as part of the EU's graduation process tied to export competitiveness, resulting in 1.66 billion graduating out of GSP and leaving 11.24 billion eligible under the GSP (2023 data), affecting about 2.66% of India's exports to the EU.

India-EU summit will announce a free trade agreement, a strategic defence partnership, and a mobility framework to deepen cooperation.
The summit will formalise a free trade agreement, a strategic defence partnership framework, and a mobility framework for Indian students, researchers, workers and highly skilled professionals. Complementary measures will boost investment and cooperation in supply chains such as clean hydrogen, solar equipment, machinery and manufacturing, and advance defence industrial collaboration. These deliverables are framed to strengthen a rules-based international order, address geopolitical challenges including the implications of Russia's war against Ukraine, and explore the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and broader connectivity initiatives to enhance integration and supply chain resilience.

Global trade faces legal risks from unilateral tariff threats; preserving WTO rules and addressing debt and inequality is essential.
Senior policymakers cautioned that unilateral tariff threats and trade tensions pose legal and regulatory risks to predictable cross-border commerce, underscoring the importance of preserving WTO rules and the most-favoured-nation tariff framework. They recommended complementary fiscal and regulatory measures-debt reduction, inequality mitigation, investment-climate reforms and planning for technology-driven labour impacts-to protect economic stability and the legal predictability needed for sustained international trade and investment.

Textile sector: Minister rejects industry shutdown claims, cites rising exports, job creation and trade agreements.
The Union Textile Minister rebutted claims that a 50% US tariff has caused shutdowns or mass job losses, citing export values of Rs 95,000 crore (April-December 2024) and Rs 1.02 lakh crore (April-December 2025), attributing resilience to market diversification and recent trade agreements, and asserting five crore jobs were created over eleven years while projecting industry growth to USD 350 billion by 2030.

Sri Lanka recovery fund tops LKR 8.5 billion; customs duty waived on relief goods and insurance claims partially settled.
Sri Lanka has received LKR 8.5 billion in foreign contributions for post-cyclone reconstruction, with funds channelled to affected people and businesses. Relief goods worth LKR 21.3 billion are being cleared without customs duties to expedite distribution. Insurance claims totalling LKR 45 billion were filed, of which about LKR 4.5 billion across 24,000 claims have been cleared. External financing includes concessional lines of credit and grants, and emergency support restored critical hospital functions damaged by flooding.

India's agri-food presence at Gulfood 2026: expanded pavilion, 161 exhibitors, startups and CEPA-aligned market access.
APEDA is presenting an expanded Indian Pavilion at Gulfood 2026 occupying 1,434 sqm with 161 exhibitors from exporters, FPOs, cooperatives, state agencies and national institutions, highlighting processed and staple commodities, GI-tagged and organic products, and compliance with international quality and traceability standards to strengthen buyer-seller linkages.

Customs Brokers Licensing Examination scheduled for 17.03.2026; CBT 150 MCQs, +3/-1 marking, pass 60%.
Customs Brokers Licensing Examination on 17.03.2026 will be a bilingual Computer Based Test of 150 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, marked +3/-1 for a maximum of 450 marks and a qualifying threshold of 270 (60%); successful candidates must undergo an oral examination under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018, with a 60% pass requirement and official contact details provided for queries.

Mercosur trade deal could be provisionally applied once a Mercosur state ratifies, despite parliament's legal review referral.
The European Commission is prepared to provisionally implement the Mercosur-EU free trade agreement once at least one Mercosur member ratifies, relying on executive authority for interim implementation, while the European Parliament's referral of the pact to the Court of Justice for legal review has halted parliamentary ratification and may delay final approval.