Shantanu Singh / @shansebolo

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday (July 3, 2025), former MP Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao and other SKM leaders warned that Indian agriculture should be kept out of any free trade agreement with the US or other countries.
www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...

Farmers to protest India-US trade deal in Delhi on August 25 BENGALURU: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) announced that a nationwide farmers’ rally will be held in Delhi on August 25 to protest against the propos

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) announced that a nationwide farmers’ rally will be held in Delhi on August 25 to protest against the proposed India-US trade agreement, and to press for key farmer demands. www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/...

Extending the Modification of the Reciprocal Tariff Rates By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency

US Tariff Pause
Donald Trump has signed an executive order pushing the tariff implementation deadline from July to August 1.

www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

With Prime Minister’s Office push, India finalises terms for US trade deal US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that India was willing to cut tariffs, hinting at possible relief for India from sweeping US tariffs.

Indeed. And in these BTA talks, the PM's Office has shown more willingness than ever before.

indianexpress.com/article/busi...

The India-UK FTA incorporates a mechanism that would allow either party to renegotiate specific clauses if the other offers better terms to a third country through separate agreements, according to people familiar with the matter. www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/i...

1/Blockbuster ruling by Court of International Trade nullifying reciprocal tariffs and trafficking tariffs. It also severely handicaps attempts to reimpose. The Court in no uncertain terms rejects national security justification (something courts rarely do).
www.cit.uscourts.gov/sites/cit/fi...

The new FOCE definition will make it harder for Chinese or other foreign investors to use indirect structures such as offshore investment funds or layered Indian entities to enter regulated sectors through the back door, the second source said.

"What cannot be done directly should not be allowed indirectly either. That will now be clearly reflected in the rules," the source said. "Even a domestic restructuring or internal transfer could trigger FDI obligations for foreign-owned firms if the rule change is implemented," the source said.

Exclusive: India plans stricter rules for companies with foreign ownership, sources say India is planning to tighten foreign ownership rules, two sources said, in a move that may have significant implications for businesses ranging from e-commerce to pharmaceuticals.

New Delhi plans to create a new category of "foreign-owned and controlled entities" (FOCE), which will also include Indian firms with "indirect foreign investment", the first source said.

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

According to China, the US always “manipulates double standard” by “disciplining others with the strictest standards and self-discipline with the loosest standards, and inconsistency between words and deeds has become the norm.” twn.my/title2/wto.i...

Surging imports of flat-rolled steel, stainless steel, and ferro-alloys have exposed deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities, contributing to a $7.33 billion trade deficit in the iron and steel sector. These imbalances call for an urgent review of trade provisions under existing FTAs.

Making Indian steel globally competitive Safeguard measures against dumping by China apart, merit-based incentives to improve cost-efficiency and quality are needed

Prof Ram Singh: "The concern, however, extends beyond China. Imports [of steel products] from FTA partners are rising steeply, with India running trade deficits of around $2 billion each with Japan and South Korea, and $1 billion with Vietnam." www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/maki...

India-UK FTA to take over 15 months to fructify India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) details, including tariff reductions on alcohol and automobiles, require 15 months for implementation.

“We have been holding on to alcohol and auto and that has led us to lose out on gains in other sectors such as textiles, gems & jewellery and footwear,” the official said adding that there would be gains in the two sectors as well. www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/indi...

“There is no out-of-quota duty reduction for EVs. The sensitivity related to EVs has been addressed. The out-of-quota duty on ICE vehicles will be reduced gradually over a longer period [..]" the official said

India–UK trade deal text expected in 3 months; No MIP on UK Whisky: Official To protect the domestic industry, the import restrictions on diesel and petrol vehicles are linked to engine capacity, and in the case of EVs, to prices, an official clarified.

An official clarified that India has not included a Minimum Import Price (MIP) provision for British alcoholic beverages in the free trade agreement, despite requests from domestic liquor manufacturers. indianexpress.com/article/busi...

“Despite that, the UK should not put forth such a difficult proposition. However, if India taxes these products, Indian exporters will not have to pay CBAM. The revenue collected will help the industry become more sustainable or support our sustainability efforts,” the official clarified.

“CBAM will apply to a few products. So, the industry is more concerned about the paperwork related to it. In terms of market access, CBAM will not hurt the industry,” the official said.

Government officials said that while the deal was concluded on Tuesday, implementation could take over 15 months. Both sides have started the legal scrubbing of the text, which will take around three months to complete.

“The market access given to the UK in cars is minuscule. We sell around 5 million cars now. It will be a 10 million market in five to six years. Also, duty-free access to the UK market for ICE vehicles has the potential to boost India’s auto exports,” the official said.

India has not granted market access to the UK in smartphones; small-sized, low-cost EVs; hybrids; or futuristic cars in the just-concluded FTA, giving the industry adequate ‘protection’, a senior government official said on Thursday. www.business-standard.com/economy/news...

“We have made it clear that if the UK goes ahead with a carbon tax, India will respond in kind," said the official, who was part of the negotiations.

As per procedure, in the UK, international treaties such as FTAs typically require presentation before Parliament under the CRAG. In India, cabinet approval is generally sufficient for ratification, unless legislative changes are required.

Post-signing, the FTA will be ratified by the UK Parliament, while in India, ratification will take place through a Union cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister.

“Instead, it will benefit consumers by giving them access to genuine Scotch whisky," the official said. “India’s total liquor imports are around $500 million, which is not a significant figure. Moreover, this move could open new doors for Indian liquor manufacturers in overseas markets."

The negotiations were earlier delayed due to two critical issues—relaxation of duties on spirits and automobiles. The second official cited above said that India has agreed to reduce tariffs on both, but it will not hurt Indian industry.

The legal scrubbing team for FTAs typically includes officials from the department of commerce’s TPDand legal officers from the MOLJ. They are supported by external trade law experts, with inputs from other ministries like finance, agriculture, or environment, depending on the agreement’s scope.

“The agreement text will be publicly released only after this phase is completed," one of the officials said. “Both sides will review each chapter, and the FTA will not take immediate effect due to procedural formalities."

The FTA between India and the UK might take more than three months to take effect, with the final text now headed for legal vetting, two senior government officials said on the condition of anonymity. www.livemint.com/politics/pol...

The UK would get access to a [Tariff Rate] quota to sell 22,000 high-value EVs to India at the lower 10% duty, while New Delhi would get a quota to sell low- and mid-range EVs to Britain under the India-UK FTA.

What impact will the UK-India trade deal have? London predicts small GDP boost in long run as accord sets out contentious national insurance waiver

Indian officials said investor-state dispute resolution remained a sticking point [in the Bilateral Investment Treaty]. www.ft.com/content/c5e7...