Rajesh Agrawal | DD News

April 15, 2026 4:57 PM

India’s exports rise 4.22% to $860.09 billion in FY26; imports grow faster, widening trade deficit

India’s exports grew by 4.22 per cent to USD 860.09 billion in the financial year 2025–26, while imports rose at a faster pace of 6.47 per cent to around USD 970 billion, resulting in a widening of the overall trade deficit, according to data shared by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The data shows that total exports increased from USD 825.26 billion in 2024–25 to USD 860.09 billion in 2025–26. Meanwhile, imports rose from USD 919.92 billion in the previous financial year to approxim...

December 24, 2025 10:47 AM

Legally binding commitments in FTAs key to expanding global footprint of Indian professionals: Commerce Secretary

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Tuesday stressed the need for legally binding commitments on professional services under India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to help Indian professionals access global markets, as the government looks to leverage the country’s demographic dividend and growing services strength. Speaking at a Chintan Shivir on Professional Services organised by the Department of Commerce, Agrawal said closer stakeholder coordination, reforms in the domestic ecosystem, an...

November 17, 2025 6:42 PM

India, US near closure on first tranche of proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement

India remains in discussions with the United States on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), and the first tranche of the deal -- focused on resolving reciprocal tariff issues -- is “near closure,” Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday while releasing the October trade data. Agrawal said virtual negotiations on the BTA have been underway for several months. The agreement has two components: a broader segment that will require deeper negotiations, and an initial tranche de...

November 16, 2025 2:55 PM

Commerce Secretary reviews India-EAEU FTA negotiations in Moscow

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Saturday reviewed the ongoing negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during a series of high-level meetings in Moscow. Agrawal met Andrey Slepnev, Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission; Mikhail Yurin, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; and also addressed an industry plenary attended by Indian and Russian business leaders. The discussi...