Piyush Goyal flags FTA progress, Assam honey export and global investment talks
Synopsis
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's 10-day trade blitz delivered a first-ever Assam honey export to the US, a concluded second round of India-Canada CEPA talks, and boardroom conversations with LVMH, L'Oréal, Airbus and Carrier — signalling India's push to diversify its export basket and attract high-value manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
Piyush Goyal outlined key trade milestones achieved over the past 10 days in a post on X .
Assam's Baksa district exported 20 metric tonnes of ODOP honey to the US for the first time, backed by APEDA .
India and Canada concluded the second round of CEPA negotiations; the next round is scheduled in Ottawa, July 2026 .
Goyal held investment discussions with global majors including LVMH , L'Oréal Groupe , Airbus , and Carrier .
Key meetings reviewed India's FTA progress, export strategies, and SPS approvals for agriculture and fisheries market access.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday outlined a series of trade and investment milestones achieved over the past 10 days, including landmark export firsts, advances in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, and high-level discussions with global industry leaders to deepen manufacturing investments in India.
Key Developments
In a post on X, Goyal highlighted that Assam's One District One Product (ODOP) honey was exported to the United States for the first time. The milestone involved 20 metric tonnes of honey from Baksa district, shipped under the ODOP initiative with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). According to the government, the initiative is expected to improve income opportunities for local beekeepers and farmers while promoting value-added agricultural exports from Aspirational Districts.
Separately, India and Canada successfully concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The talks, held in New Delhi, covered trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights, rules of origin, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. The next round of CEPA negotiations is scheduled to take place in Ottawa in July 2026.
Engagement with Global Industry Leaders
Goyal said he held discussions with senior executives from LVMH, L'Oréal Groupe, Airbus, and Carrier to deepen investments and strengthen manufacturing in India. Talks with LVMH focused on strengthening manufacturing in India, promoting local talent, and enhancing exports. Discussions with L'Oréal Groupe explored opportunities in India's beauty and personal care sector, following the company's recent investment plans in Hyderabad.
FTA Reviews and Market Access Push
The Commerce Ministry also held key meetings to review the progress of India's existing FTAs and export promotion strategies. A focus area was sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) approvals aimed at improving global market access for Indian agriculture and fisheries products — a long-standing bottleneck for exporters seeking entry into high-value markets. Notably, this push comes amid a broader government effort to diversify India's export basket beyond traditional commodity categories.
What's Next
With the India-Canada CEPA third round set for Ottawa in July 2026, and investment conversations ongoing with major multinationals, the Commerce Ministry's focus appears firmly set on translating diplomatic and trade momentum into on-ground manufacturing commitments. The Assam honey export, while modest in volume, signals the ODOP model's potential to unlock niche agricultural markets abroad.
Point of View
Not just domestic retail shelves. The India-Canada CEPA, however, deserves closer scrutiny: bilateral trade relations have been strained in recent years, and a concluded second round does not mean a concluded deal. The real signal to watch is whether the LVMH and L'Oréal conversations translate into committed manufacturing capacity in India, or remain in the familiar territory of MoUs and intent letters that rarely survive quarterly earnings pressures.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Piyush Goyal announce regarding India's trade progress?
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted a series of trade milestones over the past 10 days, including Assam's first-ever honey export to the US, the conclusion of the second round of India-Canada CEPA negotiations, and investment discussions with global companies such as LVMH, L'Oréal, Airbus, and Carrier.
What is the ODOP honey export from Assam?
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative facilitated the first-ever export of 20 metric tonnes of honey from Assam's Baksa district to the United States, supported by APEDA. The initiative aims to boost income for local beekeepers and farmers while promoting value-added agricultural exports from Aspirational Districts.
What is the India-Canada CEPA and where do negotiations stand?
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a proposed trade deal between India and Canada covering goods, services, intellectual property, and sanitary measures. The second round of negotiations was recently concluded in New Delhi, with the third round scheduled for Ottawa in July 2026.
Which global companies did Piyush Goyal meet to discuss India investments?
Goyal held discussions with senior executives from LVMH, L'Oréal Groupe, Airbus, and Carrier. The LVMH talks focused on manufacturing and exports, while L'Oréal discussions centred on India's beauty and personal care sector, following the company's investment plans in Hyderabad.
What are SPS approvals and why do they matter for Indian exports?
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) approvals are regulatory clearances required for agricultural and fisheries products to access international markets. The Commerce Ministry reviewed SPS progress as part of a broader push to improve global market access for Indian farm and fisheries exporters, a long-standing challenge for the sector.
