Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted that India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements, including deals with the UK, EU, and New Zealand, will cover 56 countries representing nearly 60% of the $900 billion global textile import market, while dedicated Export Facilitation Centres are being established across 548 districts to assist local exporters. In contrast, industry analysts caution that while the India-UK CETA provides zero-duty access on 99% of Indian exports and includes self-certification, its overall economic benefit may be constrained by strict UK non-tariff standards, gradual 10-year Indian tariff reductions on goods like whiskey and cars, and the exclusion of binding investor-state dispute mechanisms. Meanwhile, the Aluminium Association of India has formally petitioned the Finance Ministry for higher import duties and safeguard measures to protect domestic producers against high US tariffs, global protectionism, and a surge of low-quality scrap and metal imports from Gulf and ASEAN nations.