The Indian government announced on Thursday that it had successfully wrapped up two major rounds of trade negotiations with Latin American nations, underscoring its growing commitment to enhancing economic cooperation and deepening regional trade relationships.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the ninth round of India–Peru Trade Agreement discussions took place in Lima, Peru, from November 3–5. The talks made significant headway across several crucial areas, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, technical barriers to trade, dispute settlement, and the inclusion of critical minerals.
Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Teresa Stella Mera Gomez, reaffirmed her country’s dedication to concluding the negotiations efficiently. She noted the strong complementarity between both economies and expressed confidence that the trade pact would drive growth in bilateral trade and investments.
India’s Ambassador to Peru, Vishvas Vidu Sapkal, highlighted India’s steady economic expansion and emphasized that the agreement could open new avenues for collaboration in sectors like critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, and food processing. Both countries agreed to hold inter-sessional meetings to address remaining issues before the next negotiation round, scheduled for January 2026 in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, progress was also recorded in the third round of the India–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations held in Santiago, Chile, from October 27–30. The discussions covered a wide range of topics such as trade in goods and services, investment promotion, intellectual property rights, rules of origin, technical and sanitary measures, economic cooperation, and the exchange of critical minerals.
Both delegations reiterated their mutual goal of concluding the CEPA talks at the earliest to enhance market access, strengthen supply chain resilience, and foster deeper economic integration.
The Commerce Ministry noted that India’s growing trade engagement with Peru and Chile demonstrates its strategic intent to forge stronger partnerships with the Latin American region. By building mutually beneficial frameworks that promote trade, investment, and resource cooperation, India aims to establish a more resilient and diversified global economic footprint.
