India urges FTA utilization for manufacturing

On August 20, 2026, India's United States — United States Department of Commerce Additional Secretary Yashvir Singh addressed a manufacturing conclave, urging the industry to fully utilize free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand market access, attract investment, and build resilient supply chains. He outlined five imperatives: invest in FTA utilization, move up the value chain, build supply chain resilience, diversify export markets, and engage on technical standards. Singh highlighted India's trade pacts with Oman, New Zealand, and Mauritius as opening new corridors, and emphasized the need to reduce dependence on China's dominance in critical minerals. He framed trade as a geopolitical tool, citing Western policies like the US Chips Act and EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism. Additional Secretary Darpan Jain noted that India's eight recent trade pacts provide access to markets with a combined GDP of USD 56 trillion. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Mohan Joshi added that FTAs have made Indian goods competitive.