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India Engages in FTA Talks with 6 Nations Including Australia, Israel

India's Commerce Ministry has detailed six active Free Trade Agreement negotiations with countries including Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, Israel, and the Eurasian Economic Union. The talks vary in progress, with the India-Australia CECA having held 11 rounds since 2023 and the India-Sri Lanka ETCA seeing 14 rounds since 2015. The ministry also confirmed recently signed FTAs with the UK and Oman are under ratification, while negotiations with New Zealand and the EU have concluded. Furthermore, India has launched a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US and has Terms of Reference for future talks with the Philippines, Maldives, GCC, and Canada.

Key Points: India's FTA Talks with 6 Countries: Latest Updates

  • 6 active FTA negotiations detailed
  • UK & Oman deals signed, awaiting ratification
  • US interim trade framework announced
  • Multiple new talks slated to begin
3 min read

India in FTA talks with 6 countries, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile & Israel: Commerce Ministry

India is negotiating FTAs with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, Israel & EAEU. Get details on progress, signed deals with UK & Oman, and talks with the US.

"ongoing negotiations are part of India's broader efforts to strengthen its trade relations with global partners - Commerce Ministry"

New Delhi, March 16

India is currently negotiating six Free Trade Agreements with different countries and regional groups as part of its efforts to expand trade partnerships, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.

The ministry said negotiations are ongoing with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel.

Among these, the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations began in February 2023. Since then, 11 rounds of negotiations have been held so far as both sides continue discussions on the proposed trade pact.

India is also negotiating the India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). Talks for this agreement began in 2015 and a total of 14 rounds of negotiations have been held. The last round of discussions took place from July 24 to July 26, 2024.

Negotiations are also underway for the India-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The talks were launched in 2017 and nine rounds of negotiations have been conducted so far. The latest round of discussions was held from November 3 to November 5, 2025.

The ministry also shared that India has initiated negotiations with Chile for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The negotiations were launched on April 1st, 2025 and four rounds of discussions have been held so far. The most recent round of talks took place from December 1 to December 5, 2025.

The commerce ministry also said India has started negotiations for an FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The first round of negotiations for this agreement was held from November 26 to November 28, 2025.

In addition, India has begun discussions for a Free Trade Agreement with Israel. The first round of negotiations between the two countries was held in February 2026.

The ministry noted that these ongoing negotiations are part of India's broader efforts to strengthen its trade relations with global partners and expand market access through comprehensive trade agreements.

Apart from the ongoing negotiations, the ministry also highlighted progress in other trade agreements. India has signed FTAs with the United Kingdom on July 24, 2025 and with Oman on December 18, 2025, which are currently under ratification.

Meanwhile, negotiations for FTAs with New Zealand and the European Union have already been concluded.

The ministry added that India has also launched negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States in March 2025. On February 7, 2026, India and the United States announced that they had reached a framework for an interim agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade.

The ministry also noted that the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is currently under review for upgradation. The review process started in 2016 and a total of 11 rounds of negotiations have been held so far, with the last round taking place in Seoul from July 17 to July 19, 2024.

The ministry further stated that Terms of Reference (ToR) have been signed for several upcoming trade negotiations. These include a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the Philippines, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Maldives, an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Canada.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see progress with Sri Lanka after so many rounds since 2015. Stronger economic ties with our neighbour are always welcome. It should help stabilize the region. The Peru and Chile deals are interesting - opens up Latin American markets for our pharmaceuticals and IT services.
R
Rohit P
While FTAs are good, I hope the government is being cautious. We've seen in the past how some agreements can hurt local industries. What safeguards are in place for our dairy and agricultural sectors, especially with Australia? Need transparency on the terms.
S
Sarah B
The FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union is a smart strategic move. It diversifies our trade away from over-reliance on any single bloc. Access to Russian and Central Asian markets could be huge for our auto and engineering exports. Long-term thinking!
K
Karthik V
The timeline shows how slow these negotiations are! Talks with Sri Lanka began in 2015 and we're still talking? Bureaucracy needs to speed up. The world is moving fast and we can't afford to lose opportunities. At least the UK and Oman deals are signed. 👍
M
Michael C
The Israel FTA is particularly exciting for the tech and startup ecosystem. Collaboration in agri-tech, water management, and cybersecurity could be transformative. Hope it includes easier visa norms for professionals and students as well.
N

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