India FTA Pipeline Could Cover 74.5% of Exports

ByPriyaNovember 5, 20261 Mins read1 Views

Container cargo port with stacked shipping containers

India’s FTA pipeline could extend preferential market access to 74.5% of its merchandise exports if every agreement under negotiation is concluded, up from 27.4% today, according to commerce department data reported by Business Standard on November 3, 2026.

Trade agreements now in force cover exports worth $120.9 billion. India’s total merchandise exports were $441.5 billion in FY26, and full coverage of the pipeline would reach about $329 billion.

How Many Trade Agreements Is India Pursuing?

India has concluded eight trade agreements in the past six years and is negotiating more than 10 others. Three free trade agreements have been implemented this fiscal year, with Oman, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Partners under negotiation include the United States (bilateral trade agreement), the Eurasian Economic Union, Mercosur, Qatar, Bangladesh, Peru, Canada, Chile, Israel and the Maldives, plus a proposed deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council covering Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

What About the India-EU Deal?

Negotiations on the India-EU FTA concluded in January. The two sides aim to sign in December, with implementation targeted for early 2027.

What Does It Mean for Imports?

Existing FTAs cover 33.1% of India’s imports, a share that could rise to 67% if ongoing negotiations conclude. Across exports and imports combined, the share of trade under preferential arrangements could increase from 31% to 69.7%.

Market and Trade Reaction

No separate industry or market reaction was found in the sources reviewed. The coverage figures are projections that assume every pending agreement is concluded.

What Happens Next?

The next milestone is the targeted December signing of the India-EU agreement, followed by implementation in early 2027. Timelines for the other negotiations were not given in the source.