THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 16, 2026

India is actively negotiating six Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with key global partners as part of a broader strategy to deepen international trade ties and widen market access, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

According to the ministry, negotiations are currently underway with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel, reflecting India’s intensifying efforts to build comprehensive trade partnerships across regions.

Among the ongoing talks, negotiations for the India–Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) began in February 2023 and have progressed through 11 rounds so far. India is also pursuing the India–Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), for which discussions started in 2015. A total of 14 rounds have been held, with the most recent taking place between July 24 and July 26, 2024.

Discussions for the India–Peru Free Trade Agreement, launched in 2017, have completed nine rounds, with the latest round conducted from November 3 to November 5, 2025. India has also initiated negotiations with Chile for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which began on April 1, 2025. Four rounds of talks have been completed, the most recent being held from December 1 to December 5, 2025.

Negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have also commenced, with the first round held from November 26 to November 28, 2025. Meanwhile, India and Israel began discussions on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in February 2026, marking the first formal round of negotiations between the two countries on the proposed pact.

The commerce ministry said these negotiations form part of India’s wider policy push to strengthen economic engagement with global partners through comprehensive trade agreements and expanded market access.

The ministry also highlighted recent progress in other trade arrangements. India has signed Free Trade Agreements with the United Kingdom on July 24, 2025, and with Oman on December 18, 2025. Both agreements are currently awaiting ratification. Negotiations for FTAs with New Zealand and the European Union have already been concluded.

In addition, India has launched negotiations with the United States for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March 2025. On February 7, 2026, the two countries announced that they had reached a framework for an interim agreement aimed at ensuring reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade.

The ministry further noted that the India–Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is under review for upgradation. The review process began in 2016 and has completed 11 rounds of discussions so far, with the latest round held in Seoul from July 17 to July 19, 2024.

Looking ahead, the government has also signed Terms of Reference for several new trade negotiations, including a Preferential Trade Agreement with the Philippines, Free Trade Agreements with Maldives and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Canada, signaling India’s continued push to expand its global trade footprint.