Trade & Market

India, GCC Launch FTA Negotiations To Deepen US$ 178 Billion Trade Partnership

Textile Insights March 4, 2026

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have formally launched negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant step toward strengthening one of India’s most strategic economic partnerships. The joint statement on the India–GCC FTA was signed in New Delhi

Trade & Market

RoDTEP Rates Slashed by 50%: Exporters Face Immediate Margin Pressure

Textile Insights February 24, 2026

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification announcing a sharp rationalisation of benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. With immediate effect, RoDTEP rates across all HS Codes have been reduced to 50 percent of the existing notified rates. In cases where value caps were […]

Trade & Market

US Unveils First US$ 36 Bn Projects Under US$ 550 Bn Japan Trade Deal

Textile Insights February 23, 2026

The United States has launched the first set of investment projects under a newly announced trade agreement with Japan, with the White House unveiling initiatives worth US$ 36 billion as part of Tokyo’s broader US$ 550 billion commitment to invest in the US economy. President Donald Trump described the pact as a massive trade deal, […]

Trade & Market

US Trade Pact To Power Gujarat Exports, Textiles To Lead Surge

Textile Insights February 19, 2026

The India US trade agreement is set to unlock strong export growth for Gujarat, with officials projecting a 100–150 percent rise in medium-term shipments across key sectors. The steep cut in US tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to about 18 percent, is expected to sharply improve price competitiveness and stimulate fresh demand in […]

Trade & Market

US Cuts Bangladesh Tariffs To 19%, Offers Duty-Free Access For Select Garments

Textile Insights February 10, 2026

Bangladesh has secured a reduction in US tariffs on its exports to 19 percent under a new bilateral trade agreement, down from levels of up to 37 percent initially proposed last April. The deal also creates a pathway for selected Bangladeshi garments made with US-produced materials to enter the American market duty-free. Interim Chief Adviser […]

Trade & Market

Australian Apparel Trade Stabilises After Mid-Year Dip

Textile Insights February 9, 2026

Australia’s textile and apparel sector has shown resilience in recent months, with trade flows stabilising despite a marginal decline in apparel imports between July and October 2025. The recovery in October, ahead of the summer festive shopping season, indicates renewed activity across the retail and manufacturing supply chain. Apparel imports, which softened in the early

Trade & Market

FITA, ABIT, AICP & EURATEX Back Mercosur–EU Integration Efforts

Textile Insights February 9, 2026

Leading textile and apparel industry associations from South America and Europe have reiterated their support for the Mercosur–European Union Partnership Agreement, describing it as vital for strengthening competitiveness and deepening economic integration across both regions. The Argentine Textile Industry Federation (FITA), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry

Trade & Market

India–EU FTA Seen As Major Export Opportunity For Tiruppur Apparel Hub

Textile Insights February 1, 2026

The recently concluded India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is being viewed as a significant boost for Tiruppur’s apparel and textile export industry, with exporters expecting a sharp rise in shipments to the European market once the pact comes into force. The landmark agreement is set to provide zero-duty access for Indian textiles and apparel […]

Trade & Market

Thailand’s Trade Deficit With China Hits Record High

Textile Insights January 29, 2026

Thailand’s trade deficit with China widened to a historic high in the first four months of 2025, driven by a sharp surge in imports as businesses rushed to secure raw materials and components amid global trade uncertainty and potential changes to U.S. tariff policy. According to the Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office […]

Trade & Market

India, EU Close To Signing FTA

Textile Insights January 19, 2026

The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) is being hailed as the ‘mother of all deals,’ with negotiations in their final stages and an official announcement expected by 27 January, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on January 16. Calling it a ‘super deal,’ Goyal said the […]