Second round of trade talks held in New Delhi
Indian and Israeli technical experts have concluded details for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement covering all areas of the proposed Agreement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 24 July as the two countries work to build on bilateral trade.
Total merchandise trade between India and Israel stood at US$3.93 billion in FY 2025-26. The two countries share strong complementarities across several sectors, and the proposed FTA presents significant opportunities to further enhance bilateral trade, investment and economic integration.
The second round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was held from 20 to 23 July 2026 in New Delhi
The Terms of Reference, signed in November 2025, continue to provide the structured framework for negotiations on the identified areas to strengthen bilateral trade, economic cooperation and the overall economic partnership between the two countries.
During the latest round of negotiations, the experts from both sides held dedicated sessions covering trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures and trade facilitation, economic cooperation, and other chapters under the proposed Agreement. The discussions were constructive and forward-looking, with both sides engaging in detailed technical deliberations aimed at narrowing gaps and identifying areas of convergence.
During the opening session, India’s Chief Negotiator for the FTA, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo reaffirmed India’s commitment to negotiating a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Israel’s Chief Negotiator Yifat Alon Perel, a Senior Director, Trade Policy & Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, appreciated the progress made since the first round of negotiations and emphasised the importance of maintaining the momentum towards achieving an ambitious and mutually beneficial outcome.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to working towards the early conclusion of a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial FTA that will further deepen bilateral trade, investment and economic ties between India and Israel, the Ministry said. fiinews.com
