WilliamsLin216 at 07:27, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T07:27:15Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}

[[India]] is party to [[free trade agreement]]s (FTAs) and other trade agreements with many countries and [[trade bloc]]s, and is negotiating with many others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU and India conclude landmark Free Trade Agreement |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/https:////ec.europa.eu//commission//presscorner//detail//en//ip_26_184 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=European Commission - European Commission}}</ref>
[[File:Free Trade Regions of India.svg|thumb|{{Legend|#000|India}}{{Legend|#393|Free-trade areas}}{{Legend|#90ee90|Agreement under negotiation}}|400x400px]]

The negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the [[United Arab Emirates]] were completed in 88 days, which was the shortest time span for any free trade agreement signed by India.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=ANI |title=India UAE Trade: India-UAE trade deal to be operationalised from May 1: Piyush Goyal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-uae-trade-deal-to-be-operationalised-from-may-1-piyush-goyal/articleshow/90515162.cms|date=29 March 2022 |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Overview ==
There are different types of trade agreements that enable preferential market access between India and signatory countries or trade blocs - [[Preferential trading area|preferential trade agreements]] (PTA), free trade agreements (FTA), and Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECA) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA).<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |title=FAQ on FTA |url=https://commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/FAQ_on_FTA_9April2014.pdf |website=Department of Commerce |access-date=5 April 2022 |date=9 April 2014}}</ref>

A preferential trade agreement (PTA) involves two or more partners agreeing to reduce tariffs on an agreed number of tariff lines (products). The list of products on which the partners agree to reduce duty is called the [[Whitelisting|positive list]]. In general, PTAs do not cover substantially all trade. The India [[Mercosur]] Preferential Trade Agreement is an example of a PTA.<ref name="FAQ"/>

A free trade agreement (FTA) also involves reducing or eliminating tariffs on items traded between the partner countries; however each maintains individual tariff structure for non-members. The key difference between an FTA and a PTA is that PTAs have a positive list of products on which duty is to be reduced, while an FTA uses a [[Blacklisting|negative list]] on which duty is not reduced or eliminated. Thus, compared to a PTA, FTAs are generally more ambitious in coverage of tariff lines on which duty is to be reduced. The India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement is an example of an FTA.<ref name="FAQ"/>

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are agreements which consist of an integrated package on goods, services and investment, as well as [[trade facilitation]] and rule-making in areas such as [[intellectual property]], [[government procurement]], [[technical standards]] and sanitary and [[Phytosanitary certification|phytosanitary]] issues. The India Korea CEPA is one such example and it covers a broad range of other areas such trade facilitation, customs cooperation, investment, competition, intellectual property rights etc. CECA/CEPAs are more comprehensive and ambitious than FTAs in terms of coverage of areas and the type of commitments. While a traditional FTA focuses mainly on goods, a CECA/CEPA provides holistic coverage of many areas like services, investment, competition, government procurement, disputes etc. Further, a CECA/CEPA looks deeper into the regulatory aspects of trade than an FTA. Due to this, it encompasses [[mutual recognition]] agreements (MRAs) that cover the regulatory regimes of the partners. An MRA recognises different regulatory regimes of partners on the presumption that they achieve the same end objectives.<ref name="FAQ"/>

== Bilateral agreements ==
[[File: India-FTA-2.svg|thumb|{{Centre|Bilateral Trade Agreements of India}}
{{Legend|#000|India}}{{Legend|#1b4f72ff|CEPA/CETA/CECPA}}{{Legend|#2874A6|CECA/ECTA}}
{{Legend|#5DADE2|FTA}}
{{Legend|#AED6F1|PTA}}
{{Legend|#f4d03fff|Under Negotiation}}
|480x480px]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Country
!Agreement name
!Type
!Signed
!Effective
!Ref.
|-
|{{flag|Afghanistan}}
|Afghanistan–India Preferential Trade Agreement
|PTA
|6 March 2003
|13 May 2003
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=India-Afghanistan PTA |url=https://commerce.gov.in/international-trade/trade-agreements/trade-agreements-2/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Department of Commerce |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India-Afghanistan Preferential Trading Agreement Free Trade Agreement |url=https://aric.adb.org/fta/india-afghanistan-preferential-trading-agreement |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=aric.adb.org}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Australia}}
|[[Australia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement]]
|CECA
|2 April 2022
|29 December 2022
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-03 |title=India, Australia sign FTA, trade likely to 'double in 5 yrs, generate 1 mn jobs' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-australia-ink-economic-cooperation-and-trade-pact-to-boost-ties-7849230/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India-Australia FTA kicks off, nearly 96% exports get free access |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/india-australia-trade-agreement-kicks-off-nearly-96-exports-get-free-access-9778731.html |website=Moneycontrol |date=29 December 2022 |access-date=30 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Chile}}
|Chile–India Preferential Trade Agreement
|PTA
|8 March 2006
|11 September 2007
|<ref name="AR2122" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=India-Chile Preferential Trading Agreement Free Trade Agreement |url=https://aric.adb.org/fta/india-chile-preferential-trading-agreement |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=aric.adb.org}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Japan}}
|India–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
|CEPA
|16 February 2011
|1 August 2011
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|[[India–Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement]]
|CECA
|8 February 2011
|1 July 2011
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|{{flag|Mauritius}}
|India–Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement
|CECPA
|22 February 2021
|1 April 2021
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|{{flag|New Zealand}}
|India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
|FTA
|
|
|<ref>{{cite web |title=India and New Zealand conclude Free Trade Agreement Negotiations on Financial Services, a part of Annex to the Trade in Services Chapter|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2207641&reg=3&lang=2|website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|access-date=7 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PIB Headquarters |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?id=156654&NoteId=156654&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260102192105/https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?id=156654&NoteId=156654&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1 |archive-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=www.pib.gov.in |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Oman}}
|India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
|CEPA
|18 December 2025
|
|<ref>{{cite web |title=India and Oman sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2205889&reg=3&lang=2|website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|[[India–Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement]]
|CECA
|29 June 2005
|1 August 2005
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|{{flag|South Korea}}
|[[India–South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement]]
|CEPA
|7 August 2009
|1 January 2010
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
|FTA
|28 December 1998
|1 March 2000
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Free Trade Agreement |url=https://www.nsez.gov.in/Resources/Trade/FTAs.pdf |website=Noida Special Economic Zone |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630162734/https://www.nsez.gov.in/Resources/Trade/FTAs.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|India–Thailand Free Trade Agreement
|FTA
|9 October 2003
|1 September 2006
|<ref name="AR2122">{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2021-2022 |url=https://commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/English-Annual-Report-2021-22-Department-of-Commerce.pdf |website=Department of Commerce |access-date=5 April 2022 |pages=80–109}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|India–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
|CEPA
|18 February 2022
|1 May 2022
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is India – UAE CEPA, how it will benefit both economies? |url=https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/what-is-india--uae-cepa-how-it-will-benefit-both-economies-1.1645252081334 |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=gulfnews.com |date=19 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Suneja |first=Kirtika |title=India-UAE free trade pact comes into force |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-uae-free-trade-pact-comes-into-force/articleshow/91236888.cms |access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|[[India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]]
|CETA
|24 July 2025
|
|<ref>{{cite press release|author1=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street|author1-link=Prime Minister's Office (United Kingdom)|author2=[[HM Treasury]]|author3=[[Cabinet Office]]|last4=Starmer|first4=Keir|author4-link=Keir Starmer|date=23 July 2025|title=Prime Minister secures thousands of British jobs and £6 billion in investment and export wins as historic trade deal with India signed|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-secures-thousands-of-british-jobs-and-6-billion-in-investment-and-export-wins-as-historic-trade-deal-with-india-signed|website=GOV.UK|access-date=24 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723214313/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-secures-thousands-of-british-jobs-and-6-billion-in-investment-and-export-wins-as-historic-trade-deal-with-india-signed|archive-date=23 July 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickard|first1=Jim|last2=Reed|first2=John|date=24 July 2025|title=Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi to sign UK-India trade deal|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d08628d3-c02a-4541-8a42-de7616c40717|location=[[London]]; [[New Delhi]]|website=[[Financial Times]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=24 July 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723231301/https://www.ft.com/content/d08628d3-c02a-4541-8a42-de7616c40717|archive-date=23 July 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|United States}}
|[[India–United States Bilateral Trade Agreement]]
|BTA
|TBA
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-03 |title=India-US trade deal: Hope and uncertainty as Trump cuts tariffs |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwnlwj80p8o |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|}

=== Under negotiation ===
* {{flag|Bangladesh}} (CEPA)<ref name="AR2122" />
* {{flag|Canada}} (CEPA)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-12 |title=India, Canada formally agree to step up talks over FTA |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-canada-formally-agree-to-step-up-talks-over-fta-101647045171794.html |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
* {{flag|Chile}} (CEPA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=India, Chile Sign Terms For Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement |url=https://www.businessworld.in/article/india-chile-sign-terms-for-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement-556278 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=BW Businessworld |language=en}}</ref>
* {{flag|Israel}} (FTA)<ref name="AR2122" />
* {{flag|Peru}} (FTA)<ref name="AR2122" />
* {{flag|South Africa}} (CEPA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/economy/trade-deals-india-exploring-renewed-negotiations-with-new-zealand-south-africa-for-new-fta-deals-11719386100973.html|title=Trade deals: India exploring renewed negotiations with New Zealand, South Africa for new FTA deals | Mint|access-date=2024-06-30|archive-date=2024-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628060707/https://www.livemint.com/economy/trade-deals-india-exploring-renewed-negotiations-with-new-zealand-south-africa-for-new-fta-deals-11719386100973.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Multilateral agreements ==
[[File:Multilateral Trade Agreements of India.svg|thumb|{{Centre|Multilateral Trade Agreements of India}}
{{Legend|#000|India}}{{Legend|#2E86C1|India–EU FTA (2026)}}{{Legend|#0047AB|India–EFTA TEPA (2024)}}{{Legend|#008B45|ASEAN–India CECA (2009) / AIFTA (2015)}}
{{Legend|#8E44AD|India–MERCOSUR PTA (2009)}}
{{Legend|#E67E22|SAFTA (2006)}}
{{Legend|#34495E|APTA (1975)}}
|480x480px]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Countries/Trading Bloc
!Agreement name
!Type
!Signed
!Effective
!Ref.
|-
|{{ubl
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|{{flag|China}}
|{{flag|Laos}}
|{{flag|Mongolia}}
|{{flag|South Korea}}
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
}}
|[[Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement]]
|PTA
|1975 <br> (revised November 2005)
|17 July 1976 <br> (revised 1 September 2006)
|
|-
|rowspan="3" | {{flag|ASEAN}}
|[[ASEAN–India Free Trade Area|ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement]]
|rowspan="3" | CECA
|13 August 2009
|1 January 2010
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|[[ASEAN–India Free Trade Area|ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement]]
|November 2014
|1 July 2015
|<ref name="AR2122" /><ref name="AIFTA">{{cite web |title=ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) |url=https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/2015/October/outreach-document/Edited%20AIFTA.pdf |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=ASEAN}}</ref>
|-
|[[ASEAN–India Free Trade Area|ASEAN-India Investment Agreement]]
|November 2014
|1 July 2015
|<ref name="AR2122" /><ref name="AIFTA" />
|-
|41 countries
|[[Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries|Global System of Trade Preferences]]
|PTA
|13 April 1988
|19 April 1989
|
|-
|{{flag|Mercosur}}
|India–Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement
|PTA
|25 January 2004
|1 June 2009
|<ref name="AR2122" />
|-
|[[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]]
|[[South Asian Free Trade Area|South Asia Free Trade Agreement]]
|FTA
|6 January 2004
|1 January 2006
|
|-
|{{flagicon image|EFTA logo.svg}} [[European Free Trade Association]]
|[[India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement]]
|TEPA
|10 March 2024
|1 October 2025
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Welcome to department of commerce, Government of India |title=Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Governments of EFTA States - Mcommerce |url=https://www.commerce.gov.in/international-trade/trade-agreements/india-efta-tepa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114023856/https://www.commerce.gov.in/international-trade/trade-agreements/india-efta-tepa/ |archive-date=14 November 2025 |access-date=2026-01-23 |work=Mcommerce |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|European Union}}
|[[India–European Union Free Trade Agreement]]
|FTA
|27 January 2026
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-11 |title=EU-India |url=https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/india/eu-india-agreements_en |access-date=2026-01-27 |website=policy.trade.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|GCC}}
|[[India–Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement]]
|FTA
|2026 (Tentative)
|
|<ref>{{cite web |title=India, GCC Agree To Pursue Free Trade Agreement; Resume Talks: Piyush Goyal |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/business/india-gcc-agree-to-pursue-free-trade-agreement-resume-talks-piyush-goyal-news-239938 |website=Outlook |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref>
|}

=== Under negotiation ===
* {{flagicon image|BIMSTEC flag.png}} [[BIMSTEC]] (FTA)<ref name = "dezshira">{{Cite web |title=India's Trade Agreements - At a Glance |url=https://www.dezshira.com/library/infographic/india-s-trade-agreements-at-a-glance-7754.html |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=www.dezshira.com|date=11 January 2018 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Eurasian Economic Union}} (FTA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-russia-led-eaeu-nations-to-begin-negotiations-on-fta-soon/article67679210.ece | title=India, Russia-led Eurasian bloc to begin negotiations on FTA soon | date=27 December 2023 }}</ref>
* [[IBSA Dialogue Forum|IBSA]] (FTA)<ref name="dezshira" />
* {{flagicon image|Southern African Customs Union logo.png}} [[Southern African Customs Union]] (PTA)<ref name="AR2122" />

=== Abandoned proposals ===
* [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Rcep Trade Agreement: India decides to opt out of RCEP, says key concerns not addressed |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-decides-to-opt-out-of-rcep-says-key-concerns-not-addressed/articleshow/71896848.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=5 November 2019 |access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Duty Free Tariff Preference]]

== References ==
{{GODL-India-text|title=[https://commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/FAQ_on_FTA_9April2014.pdf Free Trade Agreements Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)]}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Free trade agreements}}

[[Category:Foreign relations of India]]
[[Category:Free trade agreements of India| ]]

Free trade agreements of India - Revision history

WilliamsLin216 at 07:27, 24 March 2026