India, UAE Discuss Market Access, Data Sharing & FTA Progress

• India and the UAE discussed market access, gold quotas, and services
• Cooperation on pharma, Certificates of Origin, and food safety MoU
• Bilateral trade hits $100B; target set for $100B non-oil trade by 2030

Recently, the Union Ministry of Commerce reported that representatives from the UAE and India discussed topics to help improve trade relations, such as market access, sharing of data, the issuance of gold import quotas, anti-dumping actions, and services as part of the initial meetings held by the Joint Committee established by the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between the two countries.

The statement read, “The two sides conducted a comprehensive review of progress under CEPA, and detailed discussions were held on market access issues, data sharing, allocation of Gold TRQ (tariff rate quota), anti-dumping matters, services, Rules of Origin, and BIS licensing”.

Among other things, during the meeting, the Indian Government informed the UAE that gold tariff rates had recently been determined by a transparent, competitive bidding process through the allocations of Gold Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs).

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The Indian and UAE representatives also discussed expanding regulatory collaboration in respect of pharmaceuticals, resolving issues associated with Certificates of Origin, and facilitating the expeditious signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Requirements and Food Safety between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA) and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

The value of two-way trade between the two countries exceeded US$100 billion in 2024-25, a 19.6% increase from the previous year.

Both India and the UAE have made a commitment to increase their total volume of trade, excluding oil and precious metals, to US$100 billion by 2030, demonstrating their continuing commitment to becoming stronger economic partners and creating even more opportunities for their countries to work together in a number of areas.