India's FTA Architecture
Comparative Benchmarking
India has substantially expanded its trade agreement network since 2022 after a long pause following the 2019 decision to stay out of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). Comparing recent agreements helps calibrate the significance of each new pact.
- India-UAE CEPA: signed February 18, 2022; entered into force May 1, 2022; India offered duty elimination on 90% of tariff lines over 10 years (65% immediate), UAE offered 97%+ elimination (80% on Day 1).
- India-Australia ECTA: signed April 2, 2022; entered into force December 29, 2022; India offered zero duty on 98.3% of exports to Australia from Day 1 (100% within 5 years); Australia eliminated tariffs on 85% of imports from India immediately.
- India stayed out of RCEP (concluded 2020, 15 members including China and ASEAN) citing concerns over trade deficits and market flooding — its absence is frequently tested alongside these bilateral deals as India's alternative strategy of "friend-shoring" through smaller, deeper bilateral pacts.
- India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA, with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) entered into force October 2025, featuring a first-of-its-kind $100 billion investment commitment linked to market access.
● Tracked since February 14, 2026 · last seen September 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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