New Delhi: India has strengthened its global trade architecture with a series of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed or announced during 2025–26, expanding its network to nine agreements covering 38 countries, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Over the past decade, the government has pursued a strategy of negotiating “modern and future-ready” trade pacts to boost exports, attract investments and deepen integration with global supply chains.
The recent agreements include the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in July 2025, the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in December 2025, and newly announced trade deals with New Zealand and the European Union.
Earlier trade pacts such as the India–UAE CEPA, India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, and the EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) have also expanded India’s market access across developed economies.
The government said the agreements are designed to create new opportunities for sectors ranging from agriculture and MSMEs to services, while enabling mobility for professionals such as IT specialists, chefs and wellness practitioners.
The point is that while expanding trade access, the negotiations have also safeguarded sensitive domestic sectors such as dairy, agriculture and local industries, aligning the agreements with India’s broader economic priorities under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The commerce ministry said the expanding FTA network reflects growing global confidence in India’s market scale and economic potential, positioning the country as a key player in the evolving global trade landscape.