‘First Came Confidence, Then The Great Indian Trade Sprint’

Feb 8, 2026 | 20:08 IST

Image: AI

US, EU trade pacts mark a decisive shift from a hesitant past, writes ex-principal secretary to PM and ex-WTO negotiator. GOI got here by remarkable strategic sequencing, he says

For decades, India’s engagement with global trade was shaped by a contradiction. Growth was desired yet fear of being overwhelmed by cheap imports bred caution. Liberalisation advanced, but incrementally and often defensively. The Bharat-US trade deal and the Bharat-EU agreement mark a decisive break from that past. Together, they signal India’s full integration into global value chains.

TOI

TOI

‘First Came Confidence, Then The Great Indian Trade Sprint’

US, EU trade pacts mark a decisive shift from a hesitant past, writes ex-principal secretary to PM and ex-WTO negotiator. GOI got here by remarkable strategic sequencing, he says

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TOI

‘First Came Confidence, Then The Great Indian Trade Sprint’

US, EU trade pacts mark a decisive shift from a hesitant past, writes ex-principal secretary to PM and ex-WTO negotiator. GOI got here by remarkable strategic sequencing, he says

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