India is treading carefully in its pursuit of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasising that the country will not be pressured into signing deals that compromise national interest.Speaking at an event on Thursday, Goyal said, “India will not negotiate with a gun to its head,” highlighting that while talks are underway with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and several Latin American countries, New Delhi is not in a hurry to conclude agreements.
“Though timelines are often discussed for FTAs, no agreement should be signed just to meet deadlines. Our national interest remains paramount,” he added.
As per estimates, India exported goods and services worth $820 billion in FY25, marking a 6% increase year-on-year. The government is targeting even higher exports this year. However, challenges remain, including tariff barriers, global demand uncertainty, and geopolitical instability.To mitigate risks stemming from potential demand slowdowns in developed economies, particularly in OECD nations, India is exploring new export destinations across Latin America and Africa. At the same time, it is working to diversify its export basket by increasing the share of processed goods and agricultural products.(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
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