Commerce Secretary Agrawal Calls for Greater Utilisation of India-EFTA TEPA Opportunities
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal delivered the keynote address to Export Promotion Councils, industry associations and exporters, as well as representatives of business from the EFTA States, at the Outreach Event for Major Exporters to promote utilisation of opportunities under the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in New Delhi, today. The event formed part of the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit 2026 and was organised by the Department of Commerce.
TEPA entered into force on 1 October 2025. Shri Agrawal said that leaders from all four EFTA States — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — are in New Delhi to mark the first year of the Agreement and to guide the way forward.
Shri Agrawal said that India and the EFTA States have opened their markets to each other. EFTA’s commitments cover 92.2 per cent of its tariff lines, accounting for 99.6 per cent of India’s exports, with full coverage of non-agricultural products. India’s commitments cover 82.7 per cent of tariff lines, accounting for 95.3 per cent of EFTA exports.
The Commerce Secretary said that the Agreement is not only about tariffs. Its most important element for business is predictability. Tariffs will remain stable for the foreseeable future, with no surprises. Businesses can therefore make investments, build supply chains and plan for the future with confidence. He urged Indian companies to partner with businesses in the EFTA States and build value chains together, from inputs to final products, for greater reliability on both sides. (UPDATED ON 7TH OCT 2026)
