Fresh from sealing its landmark free trade agreement with the European Union, India is now pursuing an ambitious strategy to extend its network of trade pacts across North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Gulf, with negotiations already underway or in the pipeline with several major economies, the country's chief trade negotiator said on 9 July.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, Darpan Jain, India's Chief Negotiator for the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, laid out New Delhi's sweeping commercial ambitions.

'Broadly, our intent is to cover the entire world,' Jain said. 'Hands are full. The table is full. Mind space is full. So we are all working with all efforts to try and diversify our relations, expand our partnerships, and enhance trade.'

How Far India Has Come

Jain noted that India has already covered 'almost 50 per cent of global trade and 50 per cent of the global economy' through trade agreements concluded over the past five years. The focus is now shifting to regions where India's trade pact coverage remains limited.

Looking east, India has existing agreements with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and ASEAN member states. In Oceania, New Delhi has recently concluded deals with Australia and New Zealand.

New Fronts: Americas, Africa, and the Gulf

In North America, India is actively negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, while discussions have been initiated with Mexico. In Latin America, New Delhi is negotiating with Chile and Peru and has begun talks with the Mercosur bloc to expand an existing Preferential Trade Agreement. 'We intend to expand that,' Jain said of the Mercosur engagement.

In West Asia, India already holds trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Oman and is now in discussions with Qatar, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and other regional partners. On the African front, India is negotiating with the Southern African Customs Union and Kenya as it seeks broader economic engagement across the continent.

The EU Deal as a Template

The comments come months after India and the European Union concluded what has been described as one of the world's largest bilateral trade agreements, linking economies representing nearly two billion people. Jain called the EU pact one of India's most ambitious trade agreements, saying it reflected a strong political commitment to expand market access and reduce disadvantages faced by Indian exporters.

'There is a strong political commitment to expand India's trade relationship with other countries, expand market access to other countries, and reduce the disadvantages which our exporters face,' he said.

A Broader Shift in India's Trade Outlook

Jain said the renewed push for trade agreements signals a broader change in India's economic orientation — greater openness to imports alongside a drive to boost exports and sharpen the global competitiveness of Indian businesses. This comes amid a wider global scramble to lock in preferential access as supply chains are redrawn post-pandemic.

The European Union is pursuing a parallel strategy. Christophe Kiener, the EU's chief trade negotiator, noted that Brussels has already secured preferential coverage for roughly half of its trade and is now concentrating on completing agreements in the Indo-Pacific, including negotiations with Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, while also pursuing talks with the United Arab Emirates.

With negotiations active on multiple continents simultaneously, India's trade diplomacy is entering one of its most expansive phases — and the outcomes of these talks will shape the country's export trajectory for the decade ahead.