News

India has successfully concluded two important rounds of trade negotiations with partner countries in Latin America, which have reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing economic collaboration and strengthening trade connections with the area.

The 9th round of India-Peru Trade Agreement negotiations took place in Lima, Peru, from 3rd to 5th November 2025. During the talks, there were essential breakthroughs across several important areas of the draft agreement, such as Trade in Goods and Services, Rules of Origin, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures, dispute settlement, and critical minerals.

Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Teresa Stella Mera Gómez, and César Augusto Llona Silva, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, along with senior officials, were present at the ceremony, as per official records. The Indian side was represented by Vishvas Vidu Sapkal, Ambassador of India to Peru, and the Indian delegation led by Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary and Chief Negotiator.

In her remarks, Gómez reaffirmed Peru’s commitment to the timely conclusion of the negotiations, pointing to the mutual benefits between the two economies, and being hopeful that the agreement will increase trade and investment.

Ambassador Sapkal emphasised India’s sustained growth momentum and noted that the agreement would make it easier for the sectors of critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, and food processing to open up new avenues of cooperation.

The negotiators from both sides decided to organise intersessional meetings for the purpose of addressing the pending issues before the next round of negotiations, which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi in January 2026.

Earlier, the 3rd round of India–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations took place in Santiago, Chile, from 27th to 30th October 2025. All the chapters of the agreement were discussed, such as Trade in Goods and Services, Promotion of Investment, Rules of Origin, and Intellectual Property Rights, besides WTP/ SPS measures, economic cooperation, and critical minerals.

The negotiators from both sides maintained the same high level of commitment to a negotiation of CEPA that would not only be early but also time-bound, with the objectives of better market access, supply chain resilience, and economic integration.

"India’s growing trade engagement with Peru and Chile reflects its strategic focus on building stronger partnerships with the Latin American region through mutually beneficial and comprehensive economic cooperation frameworks," the release read.