v131.5 · editorial
Editorial — essays + blog
📄 Long-form essays · 30
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement has been in negotiation since 2007 with a relaunch in 2022 and a target conclusion in 2026. When concluded, it will eliminate duties on 90%+ of goods and open the EU …
- CBAM: How the EU Carbon Border Tax Reshapes India-EU Steel and Aluminium Trade
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism enters its definitive phase in January 2026, imposing a carbon price on imports of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. For Indian…
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered force on 1 May 2022. Two years into implementation, bilateral trade has grown significantly but utilisation of CEPA preferential rate…
- India vs Vietnam vs Bangladesh: The EU Textile Competitive Landscape
India faces its most competitive EU textile market in decades. Vietnam (EVFTA 0% phased), Bangladesh (EU LDC 0%), and Cambodia (EBA 0%) all enjoy preferential EU access while India pays 12% MFN. India…
- The India-EU Pharmaceutical Corridor: USD 4.2 Billion and Growing
India supplies approximately 20% of global generic medicines by volume and the EU is India largest pharmaceutical export destination. With India-EU FTA negotiations advancing and EU drug pricing press…
- Green Energy: India Next USD 50B Export Opportunity to EU
The EU aggressive decarbonisation agenda creates a multi-decade structural demand for green energy goods from India. Solar panels, green hydrogen, wind components, and battery storage represent India …
- Rules of Origin: A Practical Guide for Indian Manufacturers
Rules of Origin are the gateway to FTA benefits and the most commonly misunderstood element of international trade. This guide explains the three main RoO criteria, provides worked examples for key In…
- How to Calculate Your FTA Savings: A Step-by-Step Framework
FTA tariff savings must be claimed through proper documentation and compliance. This essay provides a practical four-step framework for calculating your FTA savings potential, assessing rules of origi…
- Why India Stayed Out of RCEP — and What It Means for Indian Trade
In November 2019, India walked away from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Four years on, RCEP has entered force among its 15 members. This essay analyses India decision, its consequenc…
- CE Marking for Indian Exporters: The Complete Practical Guide
CE marking is mandatory for most manufactured goods entering the EU market. For Indian exporters, CE marking is both a market access credential and a safety standard commitment. This guide covers whic…
- REACH Compliance: What Every Indian Chemical Exporter Must Know
REACH — Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals — affects Indian chemical exporters, textile producers, leather tanners, and any manufacturer using chemical inputs. Non-…
- EU Food Law: The Compliance Framework for Indian Agro-Food Exporters
The EU operates the most stringent food safety framework in the world. For Indian agro-food exporters — spices, rice, fresh produce, processed food, or seafood — EU food law compliance is non-nego…
- GDPR Compliance for Indian IT Companies: What You Actually Need to Do
Every Indian IT company processing personal data of EU residents must comply with GDPR regardless of physical presence in the EU. For Indian software developers, BPO operators, data analysts, and clou…
- LC Discrepancies: Why They Happen and How to Eliminate Them
Letter of Credit discrepancies are the most common cause of delayed or refused payment in India-EU trade. Industry surveys suggest 60-70% of first presentations contain discrepancies. This essay analy…
- ECGC: Your Complete Guide to India Export Credit Insurance
The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India is India government-owned export credit insurer and one of the most underutilised tools in the Indian exporter toolkit. ECGC covers 60-90% of losses fr…
- Supply Chain Finance: How Indian Exporters Access Early Payment from EU Buyers
Supply chain finance programmes offered by large EU buyers allow Indian supplier-exporters to receive payment in 2-5 days rather than 60-90 days, using the EU buyer credit rating to access cheaper fin…
- CSRD: What Indian Suppliers to European Companies Must Do Now
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires large EU companies to report on sustainability impacts throughout their value chains including Indian suppliers. If you supply goods or ser…
- EUDR: Impact on India Coffee, Rubber and Leather Exports to EU
The EU Deforestation Regulation requires operators placing coffee, rubber, leather, timber, cocoa, soya, palm oil, and derived products on the EU market to demonstrate that their products are deforest…
- GOTS and OEKO-TEX: Essential EU Textile Sustainability Certifications
For Indian textile exporters targeting EU brands and retailers, GOTS and OEKO-TEX certifications have become non-negotiable market access credentials. This essay explains the difference between the tw…
- The India-EU API Corridor: USD 2.1 Billion Under the Microscope
India supplies approximately 20-25% of all APIs consumed by EU pharmaceutical manufacturers. This corridor worth approximately USD 2.1 billion annually is the backbone of EU generic drug affordability…
📰 Blog posts · 34
- FEATUREDUSA-India Tech Corridor 2026: 1,700 GCCs, $260B Services Trade, Where the Capital Is Flowing
The USA-India tech corridor is the deepest bilateral services relationship in modern trade. 1,700+ Global Capability Centres in India, 1.9M engineers,…
- FEATUREDIndia PLI Scheme 2026: How to Calculate Your Disbursement Across 14 Sectors
India's Production-Linked Incentive scheme covers 14 sectors with ₹1.97 lakh cr in committed outlay. This post breaks down how PLI disbursement is c…
- FEATUREDIndia-EU FTA 2026: Latest Round Progress and Commercial Implications
The latest India-EU FTA negotiating round shows substantive progress on tariff schedules with IP and government procurement remaining the two outstand…
- FEATUREDCommission-Only Trade Brokerage: How AJG Represents Both Principals Ethically
AJG charges no retainers, no consulting fees, and no upfront costs. Commission is paid only when a trade transaction closes. This post explains exactl…
- FEATUREDIndia-EU Trade Data FY2025: The Numbers That Matter for Indian Exporters
India-EU bilateral trade reached approximately USD 130B in FY2025 — a 9% increase over FY2024. AJG analysis reveals the fastest-growing categories, …
- FEATUREDIndia-EU Green Hydrogen Trade: Where Commercial Flows Stand in 2026
India has ambitious green hydrogen production targets. EU has ambitious import targets. But in 2026, commercial India-EU green hydrogen trade remains …
- FEATUREDEU Pharma Supply Chain Diversification: Why India Is the Biggest Beneficiary
EU governments have implemented explicit policies to diversify pharmaceutical supply chains away from China. AJG analysis shows India is capturing sig…
- FEATUREDCBAM Definitive Phase: Exactly What Changes for Indian Exporters on 1 January 2026
The CBAM transitions from transitional reporting-only phase to full operational phase on 1 January 2026. Indian steel, aluminium, cement, and fertilis…
- FEATUREDEU Ecodesign for Textiles: The 2027 Deadline Indian Garment Exporters Cannot Miss
EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation creates mandatory sustainability requirements for textiles entering EU market from 2027 including Dig…
- FEATUREDCSRD First Reports Are Publishing: The 5 Questions EU Buyers Are Asking Indian Suppliers
The first CSRD sustainability reports are being published by large EU companies for FY2025. AJG has reviewed supply chain questionnaires from 12 EU bu…
- India Tier-2 vs Metro: Where Cost Curves Now Sit (Pune, Coimbatore, Indore, Vizag)
India tier-2 cities now offer 25-40% lower operating cost than metros while retaining road/rail/port connectivity. Pune for auto/IT, Coimbatore for fo…
- H-1B vs L-1: Strategic Decision Guide for HR + Mobility Teams Structuring USA-India Workforce Moves
Both H-1B and L-1 visas have specific use cases. Picking the wrong one delays critical talent moves by 6-12 months. This post covers the H-1B vs L-1 d…
- India-UK FTA: Five Chapters Remaining — Timeline Analysis
India-UK FTA negotiations have 23 of 28 chapters agreed. Five sensitive chapters remain: Mode 4 visas, Scotch whisky tariff, automotive, dairy, and go…
- India-Netherlands: Why Rotterdam Is Your Best Gateway to 450M EU Consumers
The Netherlands handles 40% of all India-EU container trade through Rotterdam. But India-Netherlands is also a USD 18B bilateral in its own right — …
- How to Submit a Mandate to AJG: What to Include and What Happens Next
Submitting a mandate to AJG takes 15 minutes if you have the right information ready. This post covers exactly what information to provide, how AJG ev…
- India-EFTA TEPA: 6 Months In — Why Only 30% of Eligible Trade Claims Preference
India-EFTA TEPA is providing 0% duty on most Indian goods to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. But only an estimated 30% of eligible tr…