How has India’s approach to FTAs evolved over the years?

In Focus by The Hindu · May 15, 2026 · 36m

After years of slow-moving negotiations, India’s trade policy has shifted gears. Over the past three and a half years, the country has signed a string of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to increase market access for Indian goods and services.

The latest, with New Zealand, may appear modest in isolation, but it is significant when looking at what has been happening over the last five to six years. While it is true that New Zealand accounts for less than 1% of India’s total trade, this FTA comes on the back of a series of successful trade deals with several countries. India has signed, or closed…