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EU FTA to put Indian textiles on level-playing field with Bangladesh ... EU FTA to put Indian textiles on level-playing field with Bangladesh, Vietnam IANS February 7, 2026 9:22 AM Share on | New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) eliminates duties and places Indian shipments on a level-playing field with key competitors such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, among other preferential trade partners, according to a new report. The agreement is expected to bring down EU import duties on Indian textiles to zero, addressing a longstanding tariff disadvantage that had limited India’s competitiveness in the region. The ICRA report notes that preferential access and lower tariffs previously enabled competing countries to maintain a stronger foothold in the EU market, while Indian exporters faced structural pricing constraints. The EU’s import dependence on India has historically remained below 5 per cent, with China, Bangladesh, Turkey and Vietnam leading supplies to the region. Preferential trade access and lower tariffs had placed Indian exporters at a structural disadvantage prior to the agreement. India’s apparel exports are estimated at over $16 billion in 2025, wi…

How will the India-UK trade deal impact the global fashion sector? The roundtable featured industry experts from India’s fashion supply chain as well as from India’s Ministry of Textiles. Credit: Just Style. During a recent roundtable in London on advancing apparel and textile trade between the UK and India, the high commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, shares: “The opportunity for us to work together to manufacture for the world is considerable”. He continues: “The diversity with which the Indian product ecosystem exists – frankly no other country in the world can quite match that. Go deeper with GlobalData Reports Impact of Brexit on Apparel - Thematic Research Reports Childrenswear in India - Sector Overview, Brand Shares, Market Size... Go deeper with GlobalData The gold standard of business intelligence. Find out more Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more “We are amongst the only countries in the world that can literally provide everything from the growth of cotton right up to the finished product. “Helping our manufacturers reac…

India and New Zealand Ink Historic FTA, Unlocking $20 Billion ... Image source: Internet India and New Zealand signed their historic Free Trade Agreement on April 27, marking a significant milestone in their economic engagement. The agreement, inked after nine months of negotiations, covers 20 chapters and offers duty-free access to Indian goods in New Zealand. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal hailed the deal, stating that it reflects the 'depth of trust and shared ambition between our nations.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi added that the FTA will benefit Indian farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students, and innovators. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that the FTA will open a new and 'dynamic' market for the country, helping to diversify its export markets and support its goal of doubling the value of its exports over 10 years. The FTA includes key features such as a $20 billion investment commitment by New Zealand over 15 years, elimination of duties on Indian exports to New Zealand, and temporary employment for Indian professionals in New Zealand. The agreement also allows for duty-free wine and spirits from India and wi…

India, New Zealand sign landmark FTA, unlocking duty-free trade Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay sign the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, in New Delhi on Monday India and New Zealand signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Monday, April 27, marking a major step in bilateral economic engagement between the two nations. The agreement was finalised after negotiating teams from New Delhi and Wellington concluded discussions in December 2025, completing the process in a notably short span. The FTA spans 20 chapters and includes provisions on trade in goods, trade remedies, dispute settlement, and legal frameworks, among other areas, making it one of the most comprehensive trade pacts signed by India in recent years. Following the signing of the agreement, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasised the speed and significance of the negotiations, noting that the deal was concluded in just nine months. He said that this pace reflects the “depth of trust and shared ambition between our nations,” underlining the growing alignment between India and New Zealand in trade and s…

India - EU Trade - European Union EU-India Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and Geographical Indications Agreement Country or region India Trade topics Negotiations and agreements On 17 June 2022, the European Union relaunched negotiations with India for a Free Trade Agreement, and launched separate negotiations for an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement concluded on 27 January 2026. The EU is India's largest trading partner, accounting for €120 billion worth of trade in goods in 2024 or 11.5% of total Indian trade. India is the EU’s 9 th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.4% of the EU's total trade in goods in 2024. Trade in services between the EU and India reached €59.7 billion in 2023, up from €30.4 billion in 2020. The Free Trade Agreement: Grants privileged access for EU exports to the world’s most populous country of 1.45 billion people Will potentially double EU goods exports to India by 2032 Eliminates or reduces tariffs on over 96% of EU goods exports Eliminated or reduce prohibitive tariffs on key EU agri-food products like wine, olive oil, chocolate and p…

India-EU FTA's Zero-Duty Access To Level Playing Field For Indian ... HOMEABOUTCONTACT SUBSCRIBE Home> Sectors > Textile/Garments/Handicraft India–EU FTA’s Zero-Duty Access To Level Playing Field For Indian Textile Exporters In EU Market New Delhi, Jan 28 (KNN)The India–European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opens new opportunities for Indian textile and apparel exporters in the European market. Under the FTA, India is set to gain zero-duty access for textiles and clothing across all tariff lines, with tariff reductions of up to 12 per cent. Indian textile exporters currently face 10-12 per cent duty in the EU market as against its key rivals which get zero-duty access. “It is a historic moment and will be a game changer for the Indian textile industry. As India already has a significant presence in the EU, duty-free access will create a level playing field to compete with Bangladesh, which already enjoys duty-free access. This will provide a definite boost to India’s exports of apparel and textile products,” said Dr Animesh Saxena, Past President, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME). EU a Key Market for Indian Textiles The EU is Indi…

India-New Zealand FTA signed: $20 billion investment, 5,000 visas and ... India andNew Zealandsigned their historic Free Trade Agreement on Monday, April 27. The agreement was inked after teams from New Delhi and Wellington completed negotiations in December 2025. The agreement covers 20 chapters, including trade in goods, remedies, dispute settlement, legal provisions, and more. Following the signing of the FTA, Union Minister of Commerce and IndustryPiyush Goyalstated that the deal between India and New Zealand was concluded in nine months, adding that the pace reflects "depth of trust and shared ambition between our nations." "Signing of this FTA marks another defining milestone in India's engagement with the developed world and brings us closer to PM Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047," adding that the FTA with Wellington is the seventh trade agreement the minister has signed in nearly four years. Prime MinisterNarendra Modihas also hailed the signing of the FTA, stating that the agreement will benefit Indian farmers, youth, women, MSME's, artisans, startups, students and innovators. The FTA, Modi added, will "open new avenues for growth, create opportunities and deepen o…

India seeks EU scrap export relief as curbs threaten trade pact gains ... India ​has asked the European Union for relief from planned curbs ⁠on metal scrap exports as steel and aluminium makers warn the move could tighten supplies, raise costs and undermine gains from a trade pact, industry and government officials ‌said. From May 2027, the EU’s revised waste shipment regulation is set to bar exports of non-hazardous waste to countries ‌outside the OECD group of mostly developed economies, unless the EU approves ‌them ⁠by November 2026. The European Commission is also considering separate measures ⁠to limit aluminium scrap exports in plans delayed until September, EU industry sources said last week. “The EU is a key supplier of high-quality ferrous scrap to India and any ​export curbs could tighten supply ‌and raise costs for domestic steelmakers,” said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India. This year’s trade deal between India and the EU is set to take effect early next year. ‌It does not provide direct relief from EU carbon emission levies, ​but New Delhi expects Brussels to avoid steps that pressure industries, officials said. Industr…

India-EU FTA to cover one-third of global trade, impacts 2 billion ... India and the European Union’s proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to emerge as one of the largest trade agreements globally, covering nearly one-third of global trade and impacting around 2 billion people. Addressing a Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) event titled “Decoding EU-India FTA,” Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Mr. Darpan Jain, described the pact as the “mother of all deals” due to its economic scale and global significance. The statement further emphasised that the agreement is expected to account for almost one-fourth of the global GDP and around Rs. 1,029.93 lakh crore (US$ 11 trillion) in trade flows. The FTA negotiations extend beyond tariff reductions and include provisions related to trade in goods and services, digital trade, telecom, financial services, intellectual property rights and regulatory practices. The proposed agreement is also expected to significantly enhance manufacturing cooperation, investment flows and supply chain integration between India and the EU. Industry leaders highlighted that sectors such as automobiles, textiles, chemic…

India-UK FTA: Textile Gains for Exporters and Importers India Briefing examines the transformative impact of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the textile sector, offering data-driven insights, sectoral forecasts, compliance considerations, and strategic recommendations for Indian manufacturers, exports, and UK-based importers. The India and the United Kingdom (UK) FTA signed on May 6, 2025, marks a pivotal shift in global textile trade, especially for Indian exporters. The agreement, which addresses various aspects such as pricing, product specifications, regulatory alignment, and trade facilitation, is expected to potentially increase India’s textile and apparel exports to the UK. READ MORE ON:India-UK FTA Finalized After Three Years of Negotiations India is the world’s second-largest exporter of textiles and a major employment generator, providing livelihoods to over 45 million people. The country’s vast and diverse textile industry contributes majorly to its trade portfolio, supported by a wide range of product categories—from raw materials to high-value finished goods. Snapshot of India’s textile trade for FY 2024–25: Key textile products for exports: With the …

Explainer: India-EU FTA expected to lift Indian exports to Europe India–EU FTA Explained: Mother of All Deals, 99% exports go duty-free New Delhi: India and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced the conclusion and finalisation of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). This will be the 19th trade deal for India. The FTA will help boost the country's exports to the 27-nation bloc. Since 2014, India has finalised seven trade pacts -- Mauritius (April 2021 implemented), Australia (December 2022 implemented), UAE (May 2022 implemented), Oman (signed in December 2025), UK (signed in July 2025), EFTA (implemented in October 2025 - Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and New Zealand (talks concluded in December 2025). IMPORTANCE OF THIS FTA: The imposition of high tariffs by the US has disrupted the global flow of goods. India is facing steep 50 per cent tariffs. The FTA is expected to help Indian exporters diversify their shipments. It will also help reduce dependence on China. The EU is also facing a threat of high US tariffs. Live Events BENEFITS FOR INDIA AND THE EU: Tariffs or import duties are either reduced or eliminated under an FTA. Therefore, …

FTA with EU May Lift India's Textile Exports Sixfold to $40bn ... India has witnessed consistent market share losses in major EU textile import categories over 2018-24 to competitors that enjoy duty-free imports India–EU FTA gives Indian textiles zero-duty access, removing 10–12% tariff disadvantage India targets leap from $7bn to $30–40bn in EU textile exports, boosting jobs Bangladesh’s duty-free access drove its $30bn EU share; India now seeks parity India is preparing to compete more aggressively with Bangladesh in the European market after concluding talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) on Tuesday. The government said the pact would deliver a major boost to India’s labour-intensive sectors, particularly textiles. Textiles is the second-largest job-creating sector in India, employing around 45mn people directly. Gaining zero-duty access in textiles and clothing, covering all tariff lines and reducing tariffs by up to 12%, would open up the EU’s $263.5bn import market. 1 June 2026 Get the latest issue of Outlook Business Building on India’s current $36.7bn inglobal textile and apparel exports, including $7.2bn to the EU, such access is exp…

The EU-India Free Trade Agreement: Implications for the Textile Sector Tariff reductions, market access, and strategic shifts across EU and Indian textile value chains Check outKeypoint Intelligence's Textile & Apparel Printing Services! The European Union and India signed a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) on July 24, 2025, marking a strategic expansion of bilateral economic relations between two of the world’s largest economies. However, it is only in early 2026—highlighted by recent coverage such as theBBC’s January 27, 2026 report—that the agreement’s operational implications are beginning to materialize across key sectors. The textile and apparel industry, and particularly the segment dealing with printed textiles, stands out as one of the principal beneficiaries of the deal as implementation begins. Although the agreement was formally concluded in mid-2025, subsequent months were devoted to ratification procedures, regulatory harmonization, and sectoral adaptation in both countries. With the agreement expected to enter into force in the first half of2026, businesses in the textile sector are now preparing to operate under a significantly liberalized trade framework. E…

India Seeks Relief from EU Scrap Export Curbs Ahead of Trade Pact Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on June 29, 2026 · Last updated: June 29, 2026 By Manoj Kumar and Neha Arora NEW DELHI, June 29 (Reuters) - India has asked the European Union for relief from planned curbs on metal scrap exports as steel and aluminium makers warn the move could tighten supplies, raise costs and undermine gains from a trade pact, industry and government officials said. From May 2027, the EU's revised waste shipment regulation is set to bar exports of non-hazardous waste to countries outside the OECD group of mostly developed economies, unless the EU approves them by November 2026. The European Commission is also considering separate measures to limit aluminium scrap exports in plans delayed until September, EU industry sources said last week. "The EU is a key supplier of high-quality ferrous scrap to India and any export curbs could tighten supply and raise costs for domestic steelmakers," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India. This year's trade deal between India and the EU is set to take effect early next year. It does not provid…

TEXTILES AND APPAREL EXPORTS - The Economic Times Indian exporters are experiencing a significant surge in UK orders ahead of the July 15th India-UK CETA implementation. Anticipating tariff cuts, businesses in textiles, garments, leather goods, and chemicals are reporting substantial increases in bookings. This trade pact promises to boost competitiveness for Indian products, with gems and jewellery exports also poised for growth, though toy exporters face compliance hurdles. Indian textile exporters are experiencing a significant stock market surge, outperforming the broader market. New trade deals with the UK, EU, and potential US agreements are boosting competitiveness. Global brands shifting sourcing away from China are also creating opportunities. Investors are optimistic about Indian firms capturing substantial market share, with some analysts predicting further gains contingent on capacity expansion and sustained earnings growth. India's textile sector, a vital economic pillar, is undergoing a transformative shift with the PM MITRA scheme. This initiative aims to overcome historical fragmentation by creating integrated textile parks, fostering a 'Farm to Foreign' value ch…

India, Russia-led EAEU agree on FTA terms - Economy News | The ... India and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on Wednesday signed Terms of Reference in Moscow to launch negotiations on aFree Trade Agreement (FTA). The EAEU includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. The ToR was signed by Ajay Bhadoo, additional secretary, department of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry and Mikhail Cherekaev, deputy director, trade policy department, Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). The EAEU was established on January 1, 2015, and has a single market, with 183 million people and a GDP of over $2.5 trillion. While the idea for an FTA between has been debated for some time, the talks had acquired pace in the last two years. After the start of the Ukraine conflict Russia became the third biggest source of imports due to the crude oil trade. Trade between India and the EAEU reached $ 69 billion in 2024, marking a 7% increase over 2023. The combined GDP of India and the EAEU is $ 6.5 trillion. Within the EAEU most of India’s trade is with Russia. In 2024-25 India’s exports to Russia stood at $ 4.8 billion while imports were $ 63.8 bil…

FTA with EU seen driving India's textile exports to $100 billion by ... iStock The FTA will address the tariff disadvantage the Indian textiles sector has faced in comparison to competitors such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey. India’s apparel & textile sector is set to undergo a major transformation with the finalisation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on January 27, 2026. Zero-duty access for textiles and clothing under the trade deal, experts said, will unlock the EU’s Rs 22.9 lakh crore ($263.5 billion) import market for Indian exporters. The European Union (EU) is India’s second-largest export destination for textiles and apparel after the US. Industry projections estimate that Indian apparel exports could grow by 20-25% year-on-year after the operationalisation of the FTA against the current growth rate of 3.01% in the EU market. “Such access is expected to significantly expand opportunities, particularly in yarn, cotton yarn, cotton yarn, man-made fibre apparel, ready-made garments, men’s and women’s clothing and home textiles,” said the textile ministry . Currently, India exports textiles and apparel worth Rs 3.19 lakh crore ($36.7 billion) annually, includi…

India-EU FTA to level textile playing field with ... - Tribune India New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): India's textile and apparel sector is poised for a significant boost following the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, which will eliminate import duties on Indian textile exports to the bloc, according to a Jefferies equity research report. The agreement is expected to provide a major boost to India's textile and apparel sector, which currently faces tariffs of up to 12% in the EU, compared with zero duties for competitors such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey. Similar benefits are expected for exports of chemicals, leather products and footwear. EU imports nearly USD 125 billion worth of textiles and apparel annually, making it one of the world's largest markets for clothing and fabric. Jefferies analysts note that India has secured preferential access across 97% of EU tariff lines, covering nearly 99.5% of trade value. As a result, around 91% of Indian exports to the EU will face no import duties from the effective date of the agreement. In return, India will gradually reduce tariffs on 97% of EU exports over a period of fiv…

India-EU FTA to open nearly entire European market for Indian exports by 2027: Goyal India and the European Union are poised to sign their landmark free trade agreement by December, with implementation expected by early 2027. This pact promises Indian exporters near-zero duty access to the vast European market, opening up significant opportunities. Discussions are also progressing on trade deals with the US and Canada, highlighting India's growing global economic influence.

India seeks EU scrap export relief as curbs threaten trade pact gains iStock Representative image India has asked the European Union ​for relief from planned curbs on ​metal scrap exports as steel and aluminium makers warn the move ​could tighten supplies, raise costs and undermine gains from a trade pact, industry and government officials said. From May 2027, the EU's revised waste shipment regulation is set to bar exports of non-hazardous waste to ‌countries outside the ⁠OECD group ⁠of mostly developed economies, unless the EU approves them by November 2026. The European Commission is also considering separate ​measures to limit aluminium scrap exports in plans delayed until September, EU industry sources said last ​week. Also Read: India imposes anti-dumping duty on chemical imported from China, EU, US "The EU is a key supplier of high-quality ferrous scrap to India and any export curbs could tighten supply and raise costs for domestic steelmakers," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India. Live Events This year's trade ⁠deal between ‌India and the EU is set to take effect early next ​year. It does ​not provide direct relief from EU carb…

India’s FTA with many countries has opened up export potential, says Union Minister Home textile products of Karur had a great demand in the U.S., Canada, and European countries; while 70% of products from Karur were exported, 30% of products were marketed in India, says Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh