India, Canada relaunch free trade talks after 2023 diplomatic chill.
India and Canada on Monday launched formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signalling a fresh start in trade ties after a period of strain during the previous Canadian administration led by Justin Trudeau. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the agreement in New Delhi. The documents were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at Hyderabad House.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Government reviews trade risks from West Asia tensions, vows steps to keep cargo flowing.
The government on Monday held inter-ministerial deliberations with exporters and logistics players to assess the impact of escalating tensions in the West Asian region on India's trade and assured all measures to mitigate any disruptions. The US and Israel jointly launched military strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iran responded by firing drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf, and also at the global business hub of Dubai.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Iran war may help India manage sugar availability as exports will likely drop.
If the notional stock of sugar kept by mills and as informed to the government is correct, there may be trouble for India to manage supplies this year. This is because production is projected to drop from initial estimates, leaving little quantity to meet demand for the first two months of next season. However, due to the US-Israel’s joint attack against Iran and its retaliation, sugar exports to India’s main market in the Gulf may be substantially low and help improve domestic availability.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Meghalaya showcases its organic spice economy in Mumbai.
Meghalaya government organised a Meghalaya Spice Festival in Mumbai recently to showcase its organic spice economy. A 140-member delegation from Meghalaya comprising farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative leaders and senior officials participated in this event. A media statement by the Meghalaya Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare said that the Meghalaya Spice Festival was an effort to amplify the national and global market outreach of Meghalaya’s premium organic spices, and the Inaugural edition itself, has started attracting buyers from Mumbai and beyond.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Indian buyers may find pistachios, figs and raisins pricey following Gulf crisis.
Indian consumers may have to pay more for their pistachios, raisins and figs, while walnuts will likely remain stable for another couple of months on ample stocks in view of the current Gulf crisis. 'India gets pistachios from Iran and California (US). With Iranian supplies cut off, prices have gone up by Rs. 100 a kg,' said Gunjan Jain, president, Nuts and Dried Fruits Council of India (NDFC-I).
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Terms of Reference Signed for India–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
India and Canada launched negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) today in New Delhi and decided to finalise it soon. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were signed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada on 2nd March 2026 and were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi & Prime Minister Mr. Mark Carney of Canada at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
Source: pib.gov.in
Department of Commerce convenes Stakeholder Consultation to ensure trade continuity amid evolving geopolitical developments.
The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, held a stakeholder consultation with all stakeholder ministries, key logistics and trade facilitation partners to review the emerging geo-political situation and its potential impact on India’s export-import (EXIM) cargo flows, including the export ecosystem.
Source: pib.gov.in
Chouhan unveils roadmap for major reforms at Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela.
The three-day National Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela was formally inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) campus in Pusa, Delhi, with a renewed focus on transforming Indian farming towards ‘Viksit Krishi (Developed Agriculture) – Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)’.
Source: fnbnews.com
Government assures exporters of support.
Govt on Monday assured exporters that it was willing to offer flexibilities and support them through trade facilitation measures, amid the uncertainty caused by the conflict in West Asia. In a meeting in the commerce department convened by special secretary Suchindra Misra and DGFT Lav Agarwal, exporters flagged possible pressure points: Perishables in transit, higher freight rates, demurrage, longer shipping routes, import component in exports and impact on bank repayments.While a monitoring cell or a 24x7 war room is in the offing for better coordination among agencies and to resolve issues, an official statement said govt 'reiterated its readiness to facilitate trade operations' and indicated its willingness to look at issues related to procedural flexibility in cases of genuine disruption, coordination with customs authorities for smooth clearance and engagement with banks and insurance agencies.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Turning agriculture into an engine of prosperity.
Recently, I visited a friend’s farm where he has spent years developing an organic and natural farming enterprise. Through sustainable practices, careful breeding, and chemical-free inputs, he produces high-quality farm products that meet global standards. His produce is pure, traceable, and responsibly grown. Yet, despite this commitment, he struggles to scale. The reason is limited access to reliable markets. He lacks strong links to organised retail, export channels, and professional branding platforms. Organic farming involves higher costs than conventional production, but he cannot consistently secure premium prices. His experience reflects a broader challenge in Indian agriculture. While there is dedication and quality at the farm level, existing systems to connect farmers to value and consumers are weak.
Source: hindustantimes.com