India, US may sign formal trade pact by mid-March.
India and the US are expected to finalise and sign a joint statement on the first part of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in four-five days and aim to conclude a formal, legally binding pact by midMarch, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Thursday. 'India and the US are having a meaningful dialogue. The first tranche of the BTA is almost ready. We will finalise and sign the joint statement in fourfive days. Based on the joint statement, the next leg of the partnership will start,' Goyal said.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Indian rice export prices near one‑month high on firm rupee; Thai, Vietnam rates steady.
Indian rice export prices rose to a near one-month high this week, supported by a modest uptick in demand and a rebound in the rupee from record low levels, while rates in other major hubs like Thailand and Vietnam remained unchanged. India's 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted this week at $353-$359 per ton, its highest since January 8, and up from $351-$356 last week. Indian 5% broken white rice was priced at $351 to $356 per ton this week.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Stockholding limit withdrawn on wheat on sufficient supply.
The government on Thursday said it has withdrawn the stockholding limit on wheat as there is a comfortable stock in the domestic market and prices are declining in the wholesale market. In May 2025, the Centre had imposed limits on wheat stocks that wholesalers, retailers and processors can keep with them. The move was aimed at preventing hoarding and controlling prices.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
'Kisan hit surakshit,' assures Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan on India-US trade deal.
Asserting that the India-US trade deal is 'a new example' of diplomacy, development and dignity, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that the agreement was finalised with due care to safeguard the 'interests of Indian farmers.' The India-US trade deal reduces tariffs on Indian goods in the US to 18 per cent, while Washington has claimed the deal will help it export more agricultural products to New Delhi.
Source: lokmattimes.com
Trade deal: US to export farm products to India's 'massive' market, says Agri Secy Brooke Rollins.
The proposed India-US trade understanding that Washington says will open India’s 'massive' market to American agricultural products has triggered fresh questions in New Delhi, with no official word yet on what commitments, if any, India has made on farm imports — a politically and economically sensitive issue.
Source: tribuneindia.com
India's agri and dairy sectors remain untouched under deal with US: Goyal.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has provided the first official government briefing on the newly announced India-US trade agreement. Amidst a backdrop of intense parliamentary debate and opposition scrutiny, Goyal categorically stated that India’s 'red lines'—specifically the agriculture and dairy sectors—have remained untouched and fully protected under the deal.
Source: fnbnews.com
Indian govt plans to transform agriculture sector via cooperatives.
One of the proposals in the Indian Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday that has gone unnoticed is a strategy to transform Indian agriculture by tapping the cooperatives. Pointing to Demand No. 16 for the Ministry of Cooperation, experts in the agriculture sector say a grant-in-aid of Rs.450 crore has been provided to the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL).
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Tariff cut to open door wider for exports, lift rupee, fund inflows: Nirmala Sitharaman.
The US slashing tariffs on goods is a 'very big development' for India’s exporters and will have a positive impact on the rupee and boost fund flows into India, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. India already contributes significantly to global growth and the tariff cut puts India at a different level altogether, Sitharaman said in a postbudget interview with ET in her chamber at the parliamentary house.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
No levy on US goods, but India's agriculture shielded: US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The Trump administration is working to put details of its trade deal with New Delhi on paper, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday. It will reduce Indian tariffs on American industrial goods to zero, from 13.5%, and eliminate duties, but allow India some agricultural import protections.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Pact with India better than US’ other agreements, says Piyush Goyal.
The trade deal with the US is better than those Washington has struck with India’s competitors, said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, adding that it’s been reached without compromising the interests of the agriculture and dairy sectors.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com