India’s Free Trade Agreement Pipeline Could Cover 75% of Merchandise Exports
- IBEF
- November 4, 2026
Nearly three-fourths of India’s annual merchandise exports could receive preferential market access if the country concludes all the free trade agreements (FTAs) currently under negotiation, according to Commerce Department data. The potential coverage could increase to 74.5% of FY26 merchandise exports, equivalent to Rs. 29.07 lakh crore (US$ 329 billion), compared with the current coverage of 27.4%. India has concluded eight trade agreements over the past six years and is negotiating more than 10 others as part of its efforts to diversify trade destinations and expand market access for domestic exporters. During FY27, India has implemented three FTAs with Oman, the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand, further expanding its trade partnerships.
The trade agreements currently in force cover exports worth Rs. 10.68 lakh crore (US$ 120.9 billion), representing 27.4% of India’s total merchandise exports of Rs. 39.02 lakh crore (US$ 441.5 billion) in FY26. The proposed expansion in FTA coverage would provide Indian exporters with preferential access to a wider range of international markets, potentially strengthening export opportunities across sectors. The ongoing negotiations also form part of India's efforts to diversify its export destinations, deepen trade partnerships and improve the competitiveness of domestic businesses.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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