Centre works to fix snags in free trade

Solution for procedural gaps, talks to resolve access issues likely

- Dhirendra Kumar

New Delhi is drawing up a calibrated strategy to boost shipments to key trade partners, after noticing that exports haven't kept up with intent.

Exporters shipping to free-trade partner nations must first get a certificate of origin from their home country to prove their authenticity and access tariff benefits. In India's case, while exporters have piled up these certificates, actual exports were less in some cases, prompting the government to engage the industry and unclog the bottlenecks.

The Centre is now planning closer engagement with key trade partners, conducting awareness programmes for exporters, and focusing more on resolving procedural hurdles to preferential access under free-trade agreements (FTAs), three officials involved in the process said on condition of anonymity.

Commerce ministry data shows that while Indian exporters secured a record 721,000 certificates of origin in FY25, up from 685,000 in FY24, actual exports fell in some key markets.

"Our objective is to make sure every certificate of origin issued under an FTA translates into real trade. We are working on a comprehensive approach to lift exports to these markets over the coming years," one of them said.