ECONOMY

India set for trade engagements with US, others from this week

Updated April 20, 2026 at 04:27 AM

India is set for a sequence of high-stakes trade engagements starting this week, including in-person talks with the US in Washington, a signing with New Zealand, face-to-face talks with Canada, and the operationalisation of the UK FTA, all while a CEPA review with South Korea is accelerated during the visit of its president.

Why It Matters

The engagements signal India's push to deepen economic ties with major partners, with potential implications for deficits, investment, technology policy, and regional trade dynamics.

Timeline

9 Events

New Zealand FTA signing expected

April 27, 2026

India is expected to sign a free trade agreement with New Zealand on April 27, 2026, after negotiations that began in March 2025 and concluded in December.

UK-India FTA (CETA) operationalised in May 2026

April 20, 2026

The India-UK FTA, signed in July 2025 as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is expected to be operationalised in May 2026.

Canada FTA: first face-to-face round in New Delhi

April 20, 2026

In May 2026, India and Canada will hold their first face-to-face round of FTA negotiations in New Delhi; the first round was held virtually March 9-20, 2026.

Leaders’ meeting with CEPA review discussions

April 20, 2026

During the Leaders’ meeting, there is expected to be guidance on speeding up the CEPA review after chief negotiators were appointed, with broader talks on shipbuilding, trade, investments, AI, semiconductors, and people-to-people ties.

India-US interim BTA talks begin in Washington

April 20, 2026

Indian delegation begins a three-day round of talks in Washington to finalise an interim bilateral trade agreement under a revised tariff framework (April 20–22, 2026).