India’s electronics exports jump 47% in Q1; U.S., UAE, China top destinations (The Hindu)
Between April and June 2025, India’s electronics exports surged by 47% to $12.41 billion, with the U.S. accounting for a dominant 60.17% share, followed by the UAE (8.09%), China (3.88%), the Netherlands (2.68%), and Germany (2.09%). In the same period, ready-made garment (RMG) exports rose to $4.19 billion from $3.85 billion last year, with the U.S. again leading (34.11%), followed by the U.K. (8.81%), UAE (7.85%), Germany (5.51%), and Spain (5.29%); the sector posted an annual growth of 10.03% to $15.99 billion in FY25. Marine exports also climbed by 19.45% to $1.95 billion this quarter, with the U.S. (37.63%), China (17.26%), Vietnam (6.63%), Japan (4.47%), and Belgium (3.57%) driving demand—signaling India’s deepening trade ties with high-value global markets across key sectors.
PM to visit UK, FTA may be signed during visit (Financial Express)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the UK from July 23–24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with the likely signing of the long-anticipated India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and reduce duties on 90% of UK exports to India. The FTA will open up sectors such as labour-intensive goods, professional mobility, telecom, environment services, and UK investment in banking and insurance, while also safeguarding future FDI access and expanding market opportunities in whisky, cars, and services. Following the UK leg, PM Modi will travel to the Maldives on July 25–26 as Guest of Honour for its 60th Independence Day, where he will hold bilateral talks with President Mohamed Muizzu and review progress on the India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
Latin America trade negotiations: India wary of China's growing influence (Business Standard)
As India prepares for trade talks with Chile, Peru, and the Mercosur bloc, officials are treading carefully due to past experiences and concerns over China’s deepening influence in Latin America, especially its role in rerouting goods through trade partners like ASEAN. A key issue in previous negotiations—such as with Peru—was the push for tariff concessions on goods not domestically produced, prompting India to seek stronger safeguards this time. Still, the negotiations remain strategically important for India’s goals of diversifying trade ties and securing critical minerals from the region amid shifting geopolitical alignments.
