India's Trade Deal Spree: Five Pacts in 18 Months, EU FTA Concluded

• India has accelerated its trade deal-making, concluding five significant agreements within the last 18 months, including pacts with the UK, Oman, New Zealand, and EFTA.
• Negotiations for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) were concluded on January 27, expected to deepen economic ties and strengthen India's global value chain integration.
• The renewed push for FTAs comes after the US imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods in 2025, impacting key sectors like textiles, leather, and gems and jewelry, prompting India to seek alternative markets.
• The EU FTA, dubbed the "mother of all deals" by PM Modi, represents 25% of global GDP and 1/3rd of global trade, with bilateral trade between India and the EU at $136 billion in FY25.
• Other key agreements include CETA with the UK (targeting $112-120 billion trade by 2030), CEPA with Oman (98% zero-duty access for Indian exports), and TEPA with EFTA (including a $100 billion investment commitment).

Why It Matters: India rapidly expanded its global trade footprint, concluding five major deals and the EU FTA in 18 months.