NEW DELHI and MEXICO CITY, Oct. 28, 2026 —
India and Mexico have signed the terms of reference for negotiations on a preferential trade agreement, formally launching talks between the two countries, according to a release from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry published Wednesday through the government's Press Information Bureau.
The ministry says the terms of reference "establish the framework, scope, modalities and roadmap for negotiations aimed at creating new economic opportunities for both countries."
What the talks will cover
According to the release, the negotiating areas include:
- market access for goods
- rules of origin
- customs procedures and trade facilitation
- dispute settlement
- sanitary and phytosanitary measures (food and plant safety rules)
- technical barriers to trade
- trade remedies
The ministry lists automotive, chemicals, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agri-food, energy, critical minerals, medical devices and advanced manufacturing among the sectors with "significant potential for cooperation."
How it came about
The ministry says the effort follows an understanding reached by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum when they met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025.
The discussions took place during a visit to Mexico by India's Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Agrawal. The Mexican side was represented by Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano, on behalf of Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, the release says.
What's next
The ministry says the two sides discussed organizing a Mexican business mission to India in the first quarter of 2027 to set up business-to-business meetings. The release doesn't give a timeline for completing the agreement.
Those are the facts, directly from the source.
Source: India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, via the Press Information Bureau, Oct. 28, 2026.
← More World stories · All Launchpad stories · Spotted an error? Request a correction.