News for 'General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and General Agreement on Trade in Services'

US Tariff Uncertainty Pauses Trade Talks

US Tariff Uncertainty Pauses Trade Talks

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

'The contours of the trade deal need to be reworked now.'

Why India-US Trade Deal Is Key For Growth

Why India-US Trade Deal Is Key For Growth

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

The deal shifts the US posture towards India from hostile to neutral, and that matters for growth, points out T T Ram Mohan.

Indian exports to attract 10% tariff in US for 150 days from Feb 24

Indian exports to attract 10% tariff in US for 150 days from Feb 24

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

Indian exports to the US will face a 10% tariff, down from 25%, for 150 days following a US Supreme Court ruling. However, uncertainty persists due to potential further tariff hikes and long-term implications.

'India Should Not Rush To Celebrate Trump's Trade Announcement'

'India Should Not Rush To Celebrate Trump's Trade Announcement'

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

'Trump says India will buy over $500 billion of US goods.' 'At present, India's annual imports of goods and energy from the US are under $50 billion.' 'Reaching $500 billion would likely require more than 20 years, suggesting the figure refers to a long-term aspiration rather than a near-term commitment.'

India-EU FTA: Textiles, pharma, engineering to get major boost

India-EU FTA: Textiles, pharma, engineering to get major boost

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

Textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering goods, gems and jewellery exports will receive a boost from the free trade agreement between India and the 27-nation European Union, according to exporters.

India gets 30-day US waiver to buy Russian oil amid Iran war

India gets 30-day US waiver to buy Russian oil amid Iran war

Rediff.com3 days ago

Amidst escalating tensions with Iran, the US has granted India a temporary 30-day waiver to continue purchasing Russian oil, aiming to stabilise global energy markets and encourage future US oil imports by India.

India, UK to sign trade pact on July 24; Goyal to accompany PM Modi

India, UK to sign trade pact on July 24; Goyal to accompany PM Modi

Rediff.com22 Jul 2025

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi to London for the signing of the free trade agreement between India and the UK on July 24, an official said on Monday. The two countries announced the conclusion of the negotiations for the trade agreement on May 6.

Indian pharma to get stronger dose of EU mkt access

Indian pharma to get stronger dose of EU mkt access

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

The European Union's (EU's) offer to slash tariffs on 97.5 per cent of Indian chemical exports to zero is set to give India's pharmaceutical and medical device firms preferential access to the European markets.

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

The Indian government has expressed its disagreement with the IMF staff's 'baseline' assumption that the 50 per cent US tariffs on its goods exports 'would remain in place indefinitely', based on which the staff pegged the country's GDP growth at 6.6 per cent this year, and pared its 2026-27 projection by 20 basis points to 6.2 per cent.

Equity Markets' Challenges: Weak Demand, High Valuation

Equity Markets' Challenges: Weak Demand, High Valuation

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

Trade deals ease risks for Indian equities, but weak demand and stretched valuations raise questions over whether optimism -- especially in smallcaps -- can turn into a sustained bull run, points out Debashis Basu.

'Indians have been good actors': Trump aide on Russian oil waiver

'Indians have been good actors': Trump aide on Russian oil waiver

Rediff.com2 days ago

The US has granted India permission to buy Russian oil already in transit to ease global supply pressures amidst the West Asia conflict. This decision comes after India agreed to halt sanctioned Russian oil purchases and substitute them with US oil.

Trump's reciprocal tariffs and WTO rules: An explainer

Trump's reciprocal tariffs and WTO rules: An explainer

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

American President Donald Trump has announced imposing reciprocal tariffs on its major trading partners including China that levy higher import duties on goods shipped from the United States. He has already announced a 25 per cent duty on steel and aluminium imports, which will come into effect from March 12.

Exports up in first 3 weeks of Nov: Goyal

Exports up in first 3 weeks of Nov: Goyal

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

India's merchandise exports grew in the first three weeks of November compared with the same period last year, according to preliminary government data, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. The uptick comes despite globa

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Focus Of Budget Was To Keep Stable Growth Going'

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Focus Of Budget Was To Keep Stable Growth Going'

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

'We kept this Budget on a larger plank, rather than on one incident, however serious.'

Exports up 9% to $38.49 bn in Apr; trade deficit widens to 5-month high of $26.42 bn

Exports up 9% to $38.49 bn in Apr; trade deficit widens to 5-month high of $26.42 bn

Rediff.com16 May 2025

India's exports rose 9.03 per cent to $38.49 billion in April, the highest in six months, driven by healthy growth in sectors such as electronics and engineering goods, while the trade deficit widened to a five-month high of $26.42 billion. According to the commerce ministry data released on Thursday, imports increased by 19.12 per cent year-on-year to $64.91 billion in April due to a rise in shipments of crude oil and fertiliser.

'We Are Poised For An Exciting 2026'

'We Are Poised For An Exciting 2026'

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

'Earnings growth will be the main driver of India's market in 2026, with profits expected to rise 9% to 10% in H2 FY26 and accelerate to 12% to 15% in FY27.'

Want To Invest In Manufacturing Funds?

Want To Invest In Manufacturing Funds?

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

'They are a poor fit for anyone with near-term goals, low volatility tolerance, or a need for steady income or liquidity.' 'First-time investors should typically avoid them.'

India, UK to resume trade talks this month

India, UK to resume trade talks this month

Rediff.com7 Jul 2024

With the new government taking charge in Britain, senior officials of India and the UK will hold the next round of talks this month for the proposed free trade agreement to resolve the pending issues and close the negotiations, an official said. The India-UK talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) began in January 2022. The 14th round of talks stalled as the two nations stepped into their general election cycles.

Trump: 'Field Marshal Munir Is A Very Great Guy'

Trump: 'Field Marshal Munir Is A Very Great Guy'

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

'We have a great leader coming, the prime minister of Pakistan and the field marshal.'

100-day plan: Govt platform for exporters to boost trade

100-day plan: Govt platform for exporters to boost trade

Rediff.com21 Jun 2024

The commerce department has reaffirmed its plans to launch the 'Trade Connect' e-platform to help exporters connect with stakeholders of international trade, as a part of the new government's 100-day action plan, a senior government official said.

Trump's Tariff Tsunami: Will India Sink or Reform?

Trump's Tariff Tsunami: Will India Sink or Reform?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

The Trump trade shock is a chance to push long-overdue reforms, rather than tinker with tariffs to appease the US, suggests M Govinda Rao.

India's exports marginally up; trade deficit narrows

India's exports marginally up; trade deficit narrows

Rediff.com16 Oct 2024

Snapping the two months slide, the country's merchandise exports rose marginally by 0.5 per cent to $34.58 billion in September while trade deficit narrowed to $20.78 billion. According to official data released on Wednesday, imports increased by 1.6 per cent to $55.36 billion in September compared to $54.49 billion in the year-ago period. The trade deficit, or the gap between imports and exports, was $20.8 billion during the same month last year.

Trump meets Sharif, Munir for 1 hour; no press allowed

Trump meets Sharif, Munir for 1 hour; no press allowed

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

US President Donald Trump met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House to discuss bilateral ties. This was the first formal bilateral interaction between Trump and Sharif.

Where is WTO headquartered?

Where is WTO headquartered?

Rediff.com26 Feb 2004

Take the Rediff Biz Quiz and find out how much you know about the World Trade Organization.

'India-China Won't Go Back To What It Was'

'India-China Won't Go Back To What It Was'

Rediff.com4 Sep 2025

'What's currently underway is not a 'reset'.' 'What needs to be arrived at is a new balance.'

Do fresh steps signal a stable future for India-China ties?

Do fresh steps signal a stable future for India-China ties?

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

India and China have announced a series of measures aimed at improving their relationship, including maintaining peace along the border, reopening border trade, and resuming direct flights.

How India plans to tackle possible import surge from China, others

How India plans to tackle possible import surge from China, others

Rediff.com7 Apr 2025

The government has set up an inter-ministerial group to monitor a possible surge in imports from countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand, fearing a surge in inbound shipments following the imposition of high reciprocal tariffs by the US on these countries, sources said. The product categories that may see an upsurge in diversion of imports from the US to India include consumer goods, electronics, chemicals and steel.

After revoking MFN status, India mulls suspending trade with Pak

After revoking MFN status, India mulls suspending trade with Pak

Rediff.com16 Feb 2019

While India does not figure in the top 10 export destinations for Pakistani goods, it serves as a crucial channel for select goods such as leather hides and cheaper variants of fertilisers that are generally procured by importers at short notice.

Sensex jumps 1,131 points; reclaims 75K

Sensex jumps 1,131 points; reclaims 75K

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

From the Sensex pack, Zomato jumped over 7 per cent. ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, Asian Paints, Titan, Kotak Mahindra Bank and State Bank of India were among the gainers. However, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra and Reliance Industries were the laggards.

No Digital Data Protection Act Change Likely

No Digital Data Protection Act Change Likely

Rediff.com7 Apr 2025

The "construct of the DPDP Act" cannot be changed at this stage, though there may be some minor tweaks in the language of the Rules and formats in certain legitimate cases.

India under pressure, as China, US ink trade pact

India under pressure, as China, US ink trade pact

Rediff.com3 Dec 2014

Govt says Information Technology Agreement will be beneficial to India only when domestic manufacturing is robust

Is The World Spinning Out Of Control?

Is The World Spinning Out Of Control?

Rediff.com30 May 2024

The current instability in the world is a result of long term systemic and socio-politico problems, points out Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

India Should Tread Warily On Battlefield

India Should Tread Warily On Battlefield

Rediff.com1 May 2025

Pakistan has warned the international community that any military moves by India shall be 'responded to assuredly and decisively... onus of any escalatory spiral and its consequences shall squarely lie with India.' Implicit in the statement is a veiled threat that even a nuclear threshold may be reached if push comes to shove, warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

US-China trade war: What India must do

US-China trade war: What India must do

Rediff.com8 Mar 2019

'If we play our cards right, we may even benefit from the competition between the US and China as seen from increased investment from each of these countries into India.' 'The size of our market gives us an important lever of power which we shall have to play adroitly and intelligently,' points out Ambassador Gautam Bambawale -- who served as India's envoy to China -- in the Professor V M Dandekar Memorial Lecture 2019, delivered on March 8, 2019 in Pune.

Trump is not all bad news for India Inc

Trump is not all bad news for India Inc

Rediff.com26 Jan 2017

Indian firms feared they would lose business if US ratified the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement with 11 other countries.

GST rollout: CBEC to be revamped to curb tax evasion

GST rollout: CBEC to be revamped to curb tax evasion

Rediff.com16 May 2017

The CBEC will itself be rechristened as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and will supervise GST and Customs activities and provide the government policy inputs.

India-US Roller Coaster Reaches New High

India-US Roller Coaster Reaches New High

Rediff.com26 Feb 2020

'Many said his visit was very risky. But mercifully, Air Force One has taken off from Delhi without Mr Trump stepping on anybody's toes,' notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

How small Indian entrepreneurs can make it big in the US

How small Indian entrepreneurs can make it big in the US

Rediff.com14 Oct 2013

when the Maharashtra delegation of small and medium businesses arrived in the US on October 9, the Indian consulate decided against holding a standard reception replete with boilerplate speeches. Rather, the consulate put together a programme that would increase the chances of things working out for them. They held an event on Lex Terrae (law of the land).

After US deal, India to push for Doha agenda at WTO in 2015

After US deal, India to push for Doha agenda at WTO in 2015

Rediff.com18 Dec 2014

The differences between the rich and developing nations have always been at the core of the World Trade Organisation, set up in 1995 to facilitate greater trade flows across the world, and it came as a major breakthrough when the US and India reached a deal over food security issues in 2014.

EU seeks Modi intervention to resume FTA talks

EU seeks Modi intervention to resume FTA talks

Rediff.com8 Mar 2015

Says it is ready to show flexibility on all major issues