Belarus says it wants full BRICS membership, calling the bloc a practical route to a more truly multipolar world. Speaking at BRICS foreign ministers’ partner discussions, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Lukashevich said Belarus already became a BRICS partner in 2024 and now wants the next step “as soon as the association is ready for expansion.” The country is also tightening ties with India in agriculture, electric transport, and pharmaceuticals, with an India–Eurasian Economic Union free trade deal expected to expand commerce.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi in January delivered decisive momentum to the strategic partnership, taking ties to a higher level. She pointed to the successful conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement, alongside the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership and adoption of a mobility cooperation framework. The EU ambassador urged an investment liberalisation chapter and a separate investment protection pact, as legal review of the roughly 1,000-page FTA is set to end in July.
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India and Oman are set to bring their free trade agreement into force on June 1, 2026. The deal is expected to give India duty-free access to 98 percent of its exports to Oman, boosting trade ties. At the same time, India is pursuing a broader economic partnership with Chile, prioritizing critical minerals needed for electronics and auto supply chains.
India expects a US delegation to visit for the next round of trade talks, though the schedule is still being finalized. Both sides say they remain committed to moving forward on a bilateral trade agreement after April discussions, where negotiators focused on issues such as market access and digital trade.
The EU is pressing for an investment liberalisation chapter and an early investment protection pact as India-EU free trade agreement talks near the finish line. European Union Ambassador Herve Delphin said the move aims to shape investment access and safeguards before the FTA is fully finalized, with the broader deal expected to expand trade for both sides.
New Zealand’s oceans and fisheries minister Shane Jones has ignited controversy over remarks about a proposed India free trade agreement. He suggested it could bring migrants and a “tsunami of butter chicken,” a line that drew sharp criticism from India’s community and lawmakers, who said it was racist. The comments have put the FTA debate back in focus, alongside questions of tone and cultural respect.
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France is pressing India and the European Union to add enforceable, actionable provisions to their free trade agreement talks, focusing less on tariffs and more on non-tariff barriers. Minister Delegate Nicolas Forissier said the urgency is to tackle practical trade frictions so the agreement becomes a true win-win rather than just a paper deal for both sides.
India has signed a free trade agreement with New Zealand, the seventh under Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The government expects additional trade pacts in the coming months, including agreements with the European Union and the United States. Talks with the US are progressing, signaling a broad expansion of India’s global trade footprint beyond its existing partners.
India is accelerating trade negotiations, with a faster push toward a free trade agreement with Canada. Talks are also advancing with Chile and Peru, but discussions with the Gulf Cooperation Council have been temporarily paused amid the conflict in West Asia. Separately, India plans to waive intellectual property fees for sporting goods for the next three years.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal plans to visit Canada next month to speed up negotiations for a free trade agreement. India and Canada are working toward finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement soon. Talks are also underway with Chile and Peru, while India’s FTAs with Gulf Cooperation Council countries continue with adjustments linked to regional conflicts.
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India’s free trade agreement with New Zealand is expected to boost exports of Indian liquor, with duty concessions making products like single malt whisky more price competitive. The pact is also seen as a boost for market entry and brand building. Current exports are relatively small, but the agreement could unlock meaningful growth if Indian producers scale up demand.
India and New Zealand have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement that wipes tariffs, secures about USD 20 billion in investment, and deepens cooperation across services and trade. For the first time, the pact includes a dedicated Health and Traditional Medicine Services chapter, recognizing India’s AYUSH systems alongside Maori health practices, while also paving the way for faster organic exports and wider zero-duty sector access.
Trade isn’t the only headline in the new India–New Zealand free trade agreement. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal says education should be a key bridge, urging joint degree programmes and expanded student exchanges to strengthen people-to-people links. The push aims to convert closer economic cooperation into longer-term academic and cultural connections between the two countries.
India and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union will hold the next round of free trade agreement talks in Moscow in June. After signing terms of reference in August 2025 and starting negotiations in November, both sides plan to prioritize non-trade measures. The effort is aimed at helping India diversify export markets amid global uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics.
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India and New Zealand have signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement in Delhi, wrapping one of India’s fastest negotiations with a developed nation. The deal offers zero-duty access for 100% of Indian exports, with major gains in textiles, leather, and gems, while also introducing 5,000 annual visa slots for professionals and extended student work rights. Crucially, dairy, poultry, and sugar remain excluded to protect domestic farmers.
India and New Zealand have signed a landmark “new generation” Free Trade Agreement after negotiations concluded in December 2025. The pact was executed at Bharat Mandapam and is framed as people-centric and jobs-driven, supporting India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Backers say the deal could unlock fresh investment flows and trade opportunities, with visa-related elements drawing particular attention.
India and New Zealand have signed a landmark free trade agreement after about a decade of negotiations. The pact opens new routes for trade and investment, giving India duty-free access for multiple exports and expanding opportunities in services. In return, New Zealand secures immediate market access for over half of its exports to India, marking a major shift in bilateral commerce.
India and New Zealand will sign a Free Trade Agreement on April 27, 2026, creating dedicated visa pathways for 5,000 Indian professionals and 1,000 Work and Holiday visas. The deal is designed to boost labor mobility and expand opportunities across IT, healthcare and education, while also supporting students with post-study work rights.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says a landmark free trade agreement with India will be signed on Monday. The deal is set to give Kiwi exporters unprecedented access to India’s 1.4 billion consumers and fast-growing economy, with expectations of higher incomes, new jobs, and a stronger global competitive position for New Zealand businesses.
India and New Zealand will sign a free trade agreement on April 27, aimed at doubling bilateral trade and attracting investment over the next 15 years. The deal is expected to give Indian leather exporters from Agra duty-free access to New Zealand markets, potentially reshaping opportunities for the sector and accelerating exports.
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