Category: FTA
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The India–USA Free Trade Agreement: A Deal Bigger Than Trade
From Trade Deficits to Strategic Dependence Trade agreements were once simple documents designed to reduce tariffs and increase commerce. The future India–USA Free Trade Agreement is something very different. It is emerging at a time when economics, technology, security, supply chains, energy, and geopolitics have become deeply interconnected. This is…
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The Trade Agreement That Extends Beyond Tariffs
A New Chapter in India–US Economic Relations Trade negotiations between India and the United States have often moved through cycles of optimism, disagreement, compromise, and strategic recalibration. The latest discussions surrounding the first phase of an India–US trade agreement appear to be following a similar pattern. Yet beneath the headlines…
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The New Geography of Power: Why the Global Economy Is No Longer Playing by Old Rules
For much of the last four decades, the world economy appeared to move in a predictable direction. Countries specialized according to their strengths, businesses chased efficiency, and global supply chains stretched across continents. The assumption was simple: economics would dominate politics. Today, that assumption is rapidly breaking down. The world…
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Rules of Origin: The Hidden Battleground of Global Trade
For decades, international trade was largely shaped by tariffs, quotas, and market access negotiations. Today, however, a quieter but increasingly important issue is emerging at the center of global trade discussions. Rules of origin are becoming one of the most critical determinants of who truly benefits from Free Trade Agreements.…
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India–Canada Trade Reset and the Illusion of Easy Globalisation
The renewed attempt by India and Canada to conclude a trade agreement before the end of the year reflects far more than a normal Free Trade Agreement negotiation. It reflects the changing psychology of the global economy itself. Countries are no longer entering trade partnerships merely for tariff reduction. They…
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The Middle Power Bridge: India Linking the Global South with the Industrialized World
Historical Context and Strategic Positioning India’s role as a bridge between the Global South and developed economies is rooted in both its history and its evolving economic and geopolitical position. Since the era of the Non-Aligned Movement, India has attempted to maintain strategic autonomy while advocating for the interests of…
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Who Is the Real Winner in Rule-Based Trade in the World?
The Promise and Paradox of Rule-Based Trade The global rule-based trading system—anchored in the World Trade Organization and a web of bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs)—was designed to create predictability, fairness, and equal opportunity. Yet, history shows that rules rarely benefit all countries equally. The real winner is…
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The Truth About the India–USA Trade Deal: What Really Happened and What It Really Means
Despite dramatic headlines and political messaging, India and the United States still do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as of February 2026. What was announced between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not an FTA but a “limited trade understanding”—a narrow, transactional arrangement designed to…
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The Final EU–India FTA: A Historic Breakthrough and Its Deep Impact on India’s MSMEs
When India and the European Union formally announced the conclusion of their Free Trade Agreement at the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, the moment marked the end of a negotiation marathon that began almost two decades ago. Now widely described as the “mother of all deals,” the pact connects…