West Asia troubles to delay India’s FTA talks with GCC countries and Israel

The ongoing conflict in West Asia is going to create delays in India’s negotiations on free trade agreements (FTA) with both the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as with Israel, a senior official in the Ministry of Commerce said. 

The FTA with the U.K., however, could be implemented by May 1 and the trade agreement with the European Union could be ratified by the European Parliament by the end of November this year, they added.

“There are several impacts of the war in the Middle East, but one of them is that our talks with the GCCs and Israel will be delayed, since most of the parties involved are at war currently,” the official explained, declining to be named as the matter is still under discussion. 

Negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the GCC countries— Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)— were formally launched on February 24 with the signing of a joint statement by the two sides. 

The same month, between February 23-26, India and Israel also held the first round of negotiations for a bilateral FTA.

“The implementation of the U.K. FTA should happen by end-April, and we might decide to announce it on May 1,” the official said, adding that India was looking for a “significant date” to announce it, and that International Labour Day was a good and early candidate.

The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed on July 24, 2025.

“The European side has indicated that the ratification of our FTA with them would be completed by end-November,” the official said, adding that the deal would “certainly” be approved by the end of this calendar year. The deal was concluded in January this year.