Exports grow 6.7% in August, imports shrink 10.1% (Financial Express)
India’s merchandise exports in August rose by 6.7% to $35.1 billion, helped by a low base, while imports fell by over 10%, sparking concerns about a slowdown in domestic demand even though the trade deficit narrowed compared to last year. Exports to the US, India’s largest market, slowed sharply due to the new 50% tariff, which is expected to hit September shipments hard, but sectors like electronics, pharma, and engineering still drove growth, keeping overall exports and services trade healthy. Despite global uncertainties and trade penalties, India’s exporters have performed well, with non-oil and non-gems exports showing solid gains and the services sector contributing to a growing trade surplus.
Early harvest deal a target as India, EU speed up FTA talks (Financial Express)
India and the EU are exploring an interim trade deal before finalising a full free trade agreement, aiming to wrap something up by the end of the year amid a shaky global trade environment. With 13 rounds of talks already completed and significant progress on 60-65% of key chapters like goods, services, investment, and intellectual property, both sides are optimistic about reaching an “early harvest” agreement, similar to India’s past deals with Australia and the US. The agreement is vital for boosting trade—India wants easier access for sectors like textiles, pharma, and labour-heavy industries, while the EU is pushing for more access to India’s auto, wine, and agricultural markets, and both are negotiating sensitive issues like carbon taxes and visa norms.
U.S. chief negotiator to visit India on September 16 for trade talks (The Hindu)
India and the U.S. are continuing their trade discussions as India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, meets with U.S. chief negotiator Brendan Lynch for a one-day informal but important talk on how to move forward. This comes after President Trump expressed a desire for a “special relationship” with India, even as high tariffs on Indian goods have stalled a formal trade agreement. Both sides have been engaging at multiple levels, and tomorrow’s talks aim to explore ways to resolve differences and possibly resume negotiations, with further discussions expected following Trump’s invitation to India’s Trade Minister.
Woman empowerment imperative, an economic necessity, says Om Birla (The Indian Express)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasised that empowering women is not just a social cause but an economic must, urging greater investment in women’s health, education, skills, and entrepreneurship to unlock India’s full potential. He called for gender-focused budgeting, better access to credit, and the use of gender-disaggregated data to ensure real progress, while a resolution was passed to boost digital literacy and gender-responsive planning. Andhra Pradesh’s Governor pointed out that although the historic Women’s Reservation Act signals India’s commitment to gender equality, women’s political participation remains far below global averages, and more efforts are needed to encourage their leadership and inclusion.
