CETA vs FTA vs CEPA
India's Trade Agreement Typology
India uses different labels for its trade agreements depending on their scope. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) typically focuses on tariff elimination for goods. A Comprehensive Economic Partnership/Cooperation Agreement (CEPA/CECA) and a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) go further, covering services, investment, government procurement, intellectual property, and regulatory cooperation alongside goods trade.
- CEPA/CECA/CETA agreements are "comprehensive" — they include chapters on trade in services, investment protection, competition policy, and mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), not just tariff schedules
- India's existing comprehensive agreements include the India-UAE CEPA (2022) and now the India-UK CETA (signed 2025, in force 2026)
- The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA, signed April 2022) is explicitly an interim agreement, intended as a stepping stone toward a full CEPA
- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department of Commerce, negotiates and administers all Indian FTAs/CEPAs/CETAs
● Tracked since July 16, 2026 · last seen September 04, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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