WTO Moratorium on E-Transmission Duties: India Opposes US Bid for Permanent Curb, Cites $1 Billion Annual Revenue Loss

India-EU FTA: Additional Preferential Steel Quota of 694,853 Tons, but CBCT Levy Applies

India secured an additional preferential steel export quota of 694,853 tons to the EU under the India-EU FTA, raising the total quota to 1.64 million tons. However, Indian steel remains subject to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which could add costs equivalent to ~35% of value. This is a crucial trade-off for aspirants: market access vs. carbon compliance.

BRICS Summit 2026: India Hosts Xi Jinping, Putin Amid Western Sanctions, TRIPS Waiver, CBAM Concerns

India hosts the 2026 BRICS summit (September 12-13) with Xi Jinping, Putin and Iran's President amid escalating Western sanctions against key members. The article explains why India may need BRICS as a risk mitigant against the weaponisation of the Western financial system, covering SWIFT bans, TRIPS waiver denial, Chabahar sanctions and CBAM trade barriers. For exams, this is a ready case study on Global South's push for alternative financial architecture.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026: India Pushes MSME Focus, WTO Reforms, and Local Currency Trade

At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India leveraged its 2026 chairship to prioritize MSME development, launching the inaugural SME Forum and a report on MSME competitiveness. The declaration also reiterated concerns over unilateral trade measures, pushed for WTO/IMF/World Bank reforms, and supported Ethiopia and Iran's WTO accession. This is critical for understanding India's role in the Global South and multilateral trade dynamics.

BRICS Summit 2026: India Chairs 18th Summit, Adopts New Delhi Declaration with 140 Paragraphs on Trade, Health, Tourism

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under India's presidency adopted the New Delhi Declaration, expanding the group to 10 full members and 10 partner countries. Key initiatives include Seafarers' Emergency Support Network, NIMHANS as nodal mental health centre, and condemnation of Pahalgam terror attack. The summit avoided mention of a common BRICS currency or Ukraine, focusing instead on cooperation.

BRICS as a Reformist Non-Western Bloc: Key Data on NDB, Intra-BRICS Trade & De-dollarisation for India's Global South Strategy

BRICS has evolved from a loose grouping into a formidable Global South platform, challenging Western-dominated institutions. For India, it serves as a strategic bridge to both the West and developing economies, offering concrete mechanisms like the NDB (120 projects, $39 billion) and local currency trade to reduce dollar dependence. Key for Mains: analyse BRICS as reformist (not anti-Western) and its role in multipolar world order.

European Commission Proposes India-EU FTA Approval: 96% Tariff Cut, €4 Billion Annual Savings

The European Commission has forwarded the India-EU FTA to the European Council for approval — the final stage before formal signing. If authorised, the deal will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 96% of EU goods exports to India, save about €4 billion annually in duties, and become the largest trade agreement ever concluded by both sides.

India Signals Shift on Plurilateral Trade Deals at BRICS 2026 Summit, Opens WTO Pathways

India has historically opposed plurilateral trade agreements at the WTO, but the 2026 BRICS summit declaration indicates a potential shift. As BRICS chair, India agreed to 'identify pathways' for plurilateral initiatives, despite earlier demanding 'guardrails'. This could soften India's stance on the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) pact and the Electronic Commerce Agreement, with major implications for WTO reform and Global South trade politics.

India Proposes Safeguards for WTO Plurilateral Deals, Blocks IFD Without Guardrails at General Council

India has softened its stance on plurilateral WTO agreements by proposing a 'common understanding on safeguards' to protect developing countries' rights, after the BRICS summit endorsed pathways for such initiatves. However, it maintains opposition to the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) pact unless systemic guardrails are in place. This shift marks a critical evolution in India's WTO reform strategy and could unlock stalled negotiations.