India-UK CETA to give 99% duty-free access for Indian exports to UK, with new rules defining origin criteria effective from July 15, 2026.

New Delhi, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior Commerce Ministry officials will meet industry associations and export promotion councils on Tuesday to review the India-US trade performance and discuss recent developments in bilateral trade. The meeting will be chaired by the ministry's Additional Secretary Darpan Jain, who is also India's chief negotiator for the ongoing India-US bilateral trade agreement. The discussions will cover recent trade trends and sector-wise performance, with representatives from pharmaceuticals, engineering, textiles, agriculture, chemicals, marine products, leather, automobiles, auto components, handicrafts, and plastics industries expected to participate. Representatives of industry bodies including the CII, the FICCI, Assocham, and the FIEO will also join the deliberations.

China has restricted exports of drones and key components to the United States while prohibiting U.S.-based compliance firms from issuing mandatory product

exports to the United States will remain unaffected

New Delhi, March 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday said that India and the United States continue to remain engaged in discussions for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, rejecting media reports that suggested a pause in negotiations. In a statement, the ministry clarified that there has been no hold on bilateral engagement between the two countries.

New Delhi, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The European Union's broader suspension of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) will impact only 2.66 per cent of India’s exports to the EU, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday. In 2023, EU imports from India amounted to approximately 62.2 billion euros. Of this, only 12.9 billion euros were eligible under the EU’s Standard GSP framework.

MofComm says representatives from * Australia * New Zealand * Brasil * Argentina * Uruguay * USA * Chines domestic producers at hearing. Nothing further at this stage. AUD and NZD have dribbled a little lower (UPDATE - have recovered). This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

The latest review reports strong services and merchandise growth, taking total exports to US$ 418.91 bn in the first half of FY 2025–26.

US trade team to visit India June 1-4 for talks on interim trade pact and broader bilateral agreement.

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The task force also reviewed the performance of existing government schemes supporting the industry. The newly established task force on textile exports held its first meeting under the chairmanship of outgoing commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal. The meeting focused on identifying challenges affecting textile shipments and formulating strategies to boost the sector’s global competitiveness, according to the commerce ministry. The discussions encompassed the entire textile value chain, including skilling, labour productivity, cost structures, scaling up manufacturing, renewable energy adoption, and sustainability practices. The task force also reviewed the performance of existing government schemes supporting the industry. The primary aim of the task force is to create a collaborative platform to address long-standing issues in the textile sector and to develop coordinated and actionable solutions through multi-stakeholder inputs. The meeting took place at a time when India is actively working to diversify its textile export destinations and reduce dependence on traditional markets like the US and the EU. With a target to scale textile exports to $100 billion by 2030-31, the government is increasing engagement with industry participants to align policies and explore new growth opportunities. India’s textile exports have experienced fluctuating trends in recent years—rising from $35.55 billion in FY23 to $36.55 billion in FY25, following a dip to $34.40 billion in FY24. Industry representatives at the meeting highlighted the need for consistent support to tackle global demand volatility, pricing challenges, and supply chain disruptions. The meeting also emphasised the importance of innovation and keeping pace with global trends to expand India’s share in international textile trade. Participants noted the need to build on existing strengths to address evolving consumer demands. It was further pointed out that the sector should leverage on-going trade negotiations and preferential market access arrangements, such as zero-duty regimes, to spur growth. Other key areas of discussion included enhancing regulatory and quality standards, improving logistics, promoting Geographical Indication (GI) products, increasing the productivity of natural fibres like jute, and advancing the proposed Export Promotion Mission. The session concluded with a decision to form ministry-led sub-task forces that will submit detailed recommendations to the main task force. These groups will include representatives from various Textile Export Promotion Councils, industry associations, and exporters to ensure that policy proposals are informed by practical industry insights. Stakeholders view the formation of the task force as a fresh initiative to bring greater coherence to textile sector reforms and to position India more effectively as a global sourcing hub. News source: Mint The post Textile Task Force explores strategies to boost export growth appeared first on Indian Textile Journal.

India’s textile industry finds itself at a defining juncture, shaped by a mix of strategic trade measures, evolving international alliances, and pressing domestic policy concerns. The government’s recent decision to limit textile imports from Bangladesh to only two seaports—Kolkata and Nhava Sheva—has created a ripple effect in the garment sector’s supply chain. When paired with the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and industry demands for regulatory reform, this development marks the beginning of a transformative phase for India’s textile ecosystem. Commerce Ministry data reveals that India’s exports to Bangladesh fell by 3.16 per cent in FY25 (up to February), totalling $2.09 billion, while imports surged by 15.6 per cent to $313.85 million year-on-year. The government’s decision to redirect imports exclusively through seaports is a deliberate effort to close loopholes that enabled the entry of duty-free Chinese fabrics into India via Bangladesh—circumventing the 20 per cent import duty on direct imports from China. This indirect route had provided Bangladeshi garments with a competitive pricing advantage, undercutting domestic manufacturers. The new trade controls are expected to help Indian producers recover lost ground, opening up a potential ₹10–₹20 billion business opportunity. Currently, Bangladesh accounts for 35–40 per cent of India’s apparel imports, predominantly in readymade garments. The shift is not simply logistical—it aims to restructure trade in favour of local producers. Although some short-term disruptions and minor price hikes in categories like T-shirts and denim are anticipated, the long-term gains include enhanced domestic manufacturing capacity and increased job creation. With India importing garments worth approximately ₹60 billion from Bangladesh annually, the opportunity for substitution is significant. The move aligns with the recent finalisation of the India-UK FTA, a pivotal agreement that removes tariffs on nearly 99 per cent of Indian textile and apparel exports to the UK. With Indian textile exports to the UK currently valued at $1.4 billion—making up 6.6 per cent of the UK’s total imports—the deal could enable India to double exports over the next five to six years. With an expected compound annual growth rate of 13 per cent, the FTA positions India to surpass competitors like Pakistan and Turkey and become the UK’s third-largest apparel supplier. Yet, while external trade prospects look promising, internal regulatory barriers threaten to stall momentum. Chief among them is the Quality Control Order (QCO) on textile machinery. The industry has raised strong objections, arguing that it could impede India’s push towards technological advancement. To meet the projected market growth from $165 billion to $350 billion by 2030, the sector will need nearly 4.5 lakh high-speed weaving machines—many of which are not produced locally and are essential for sectors like embroidery that demand frequent tech upgrades. Rigid implementation of the QCO risks detaining machines at ports, locking up capital, and deterring banks from financing such imports. Industry associations have urged the government to revise or exempt specific machinery categories from the QCO as they believe to keep pace with rising domestic and international demand, the industry must have seamless access to world-class equipment. In summary, India’s textile sector is at a critical turning point. The confluence of import restrictions and trade agreements is creating valuable new opportunities; yet internal policy obstacles like the QCO could hamper progress. If India aspires to become a global textile leader, it must pair trade strategy with smart, responsive policymaking. The post Responsive Policymaking for Trade Push appeared first on Indian Textile Journal.