GS2 · GS3 · International Relations · TradeThe India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into force on 20 October 2026. From day one, New Zealand charges no customs duty on any Indian export, the first time India has got full duty-free access on all tariff lines at entry into force. New Zealand has also committed to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment into India, while dairy, sugar and edible oils stay protected.
UPSC angle: Prelims: FTA dates, Centres of Excellence, visa quotas, TRQ items. · Mains GS-II/III: FTAs with developed economies and farm safeguards.
20 Oct 2026GS2 · International Relations · India–USUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio began his second India visit of the year in Mumbai on 20 October 2026 and met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on trade, energy, technology and defence. Rubio said the two sides are ‘very, very close’ to a trade deal with ‘a small number of items left’, and praised India’s progress in diversifying energy supplies.
UPSC angle: Prelims: I2U2, Jamnagar, key office holders. · Mains GS-II: India-US partnership, tariffs and strategic autonomy.
20 Oct 2026GS2/GS3 · IR · InfrastructureOn 19 October 2026 China’s Commerce Ministry announced export controls on tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and related items from 18 November, calling them clearly dual-use. India imports TBMs for metro, rail and border tunnels and has faced customs delays on Chinese machines since 2024. China also announced controls on some drones.
UPSC angle: Prelims: export control regimes, SCOMET, Wassenaar, MTCR. · Mains GS-II/III: China dependence and supply-chain resilience.
19 Oct 2026GS2 · International relationsThe 15th Joint Committee reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement met in Jakarta from 6 to 9 October 2026, co-chaired by India and Malaysia. It told all sub-committees to speed up pending chapters with firm, time-bound deliverables. Three of eight sub-committees met, including rules of origin. The next meeting is in India in January 2027.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASEAN members, AITIGA. · Mains GS-II: regional groupings; GS-III: trade policy.
9 Oct 2026GS2 · India-ASEANIndia took part in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila, Philippines (PIB, 24 September 2026). The focus was the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). India-ASEAN trade reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025-26, 10.55% of India's total trade.
UPSC angle: Prelims: 11th ASEAN member; EAS members. · Mains: Why India seeks an AITIGA review.
24 Sep 2026GS3 · Inflation, agriculture tradeOn 24 September 2026 the Government cut Basic Customs Duty on crude sunflower oil from 10% to nil, and on crude soybean and crude palm oil from 10% to 5%. Duty on refined oils was cut too, but the 19.25% gap between crude and refined oils was kept to protect domestic refiners.
UPSC angle: Mains: Import duty cuts vs oilseed self-reliance: policy coherence.
24 Sep 2026 
