Lok Sabha Question No. 4033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: India-EFTA, TEPA
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4033 ANSWERED ON 17/03/2026

## INDIA-EFTA TEPА

## 4033.  SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the key benefits accruing to India from the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which entered into force on 1st October 2025, including the $100 billion investment commitment over 15 years and 1 million direct jobs;
- (b) the sectors which are primarily impacted positively, such as textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, processed foods, rice, marine products and services like IT and professional mobility,  along  with  specific  tariff  concessions  granted  by  EFTA  on 92.2% of tariff lines covering 99.6% of India's exports (including duty-free access for basmati and non-basmati rice); and
- (c) whether GI-tagged products such as Kalanamak rice stand to benefit from tariff reductions or duty free access to EFTA markets under TEPA, given concessions on rice  and  processed  agricultural  products  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including measures taken by the Government to promote such exports and protect GI tags under the agreement's IPR provisions?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) & (b) India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed the Trade and Economic  Partnership  Agreement  (TEPA)  on  10th  March  2024.  EFTA  is  an  intergovernmental organization comprising of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. TEPA has entered into force with effect from 1 st  October 2025. Under TEPA, EFTA has committed to promote foreign direct investments by USD 100 billion in India in the next 15 years and to facilitate the generation of 1 million direct employments in India, through such investments.

TEPA provides enhanced market access for key Indian exports across EFTA markets. With  tariff  concessions  covering  92.2%  of  tariff  lines,  sectors  such  as  machinery,

engineering goods, organic chemicals, textiles, rice, marine products and processed foods are expected to benefit from the Agreement. India has safeguarded its sensitive sectors such as dairy, soya, coal and sensitive agricultural products under TEPA. The productspecific reduction in tariff by EFTA on Indian imports is available in Annex 2.D, 2.E and 2.F of the TEPA. The Agreement is accessible on Department of Commerce's website: (https://www.commerce.gov.in/international-trade/trade-agreements/india-efta-tepa/).

EFTA  investments will  give  impetus  to  'Make  in  India'  and  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  by encouraging domestic manufacturing in sectors such as Infrastructure and Connectivity, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Food Processing, Transport and Logistics,  Banking  and  Financial  Services  and  Insurance.  TEPA  also  presents  strong opportunities in IT, business services, cultural and recreational services, education, and audio-visual services.

(c)   Indian rice has secured tariff concessions under TEPA, thereby improving access for GI-tagged  products  in  EFTA  markets.  TEPA  also  establishes  a  robust  institutional mechanism to facilitate market access for Indian exports by addressing non-tariff barriers through Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures (Chapter 4 of TEPA), which aims to facilitate  trade  while  protecting  human,  animal,  and  plant  life  and  health.  The TEPA (Chapter 8) includes provisions relating to intellectual property aimed at safeguarding the authenticity and reputation of Indian GI products. The Government has been undertaking various  initiatives  to  promote  exports  of  GI-tagged  products  through  branding  and marketing support, participation in international trade fairs, and export promotion schemes implemented through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

*****