India’s push to expand global trade ties has led to a series of free trade and economic cooperation agreements with nations including New Zealand, Oman and the United Kingdom as part of efforts to deepen market access, boost exports and strengthen economic links in a shifting global landscape. These pacts are meant to help Indian businesses export more goods and services and open doors in priority sectors.

However, an analysis of the country’s trade performance since signing these accords shows mixed results. With some partners such as Mauritius and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), India has maintained a trade surplus, while with others — including Asean, South Korea, Japan and the UAE — trade deficits have widened. The deficit with the UAE surged significantly in recent years, even as the gap with Australia narrowed gradually.

There are bright spots in export diversification, with new products like pomegranate arils gaining market traction after the India-Australia trade pact and items such as furniture, sports goods and fresh produce finding new buyers abroad. But overall, trade growth hasn’t been uniform, and some deficits suggest deeper structural and competitiveness challenges remain.

Policymakers now face the task of evaluating and recalibrating trade strategies so that agreements translate more consistently into tangible economic gains for Indian producers across sectors and regions.