'Trade Deals Won't Fix Competitiveness Problems' || The Gist

As India pushes to conclude major trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, economist Dr Biswajit Dhar believes the country faces significant challenges that extend well beyond tariffs. In an interview with StratNews Global, Dhar said recent EU sanctions targeting some India-based entities are unlikely to derail the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. However, he warned that Indian exporters may struggle to fully benefit from the deal because European markets are governed by stringent product, food-safety, environmental and labour standards. According to Dhar, modern trade barriers are increasingly non-tariff measures rather than customs duties. Compliance with these standards requires investment, technology and stronger regulatory oversight—areas where India still faces gaps. On the proposed India-US trade deal, Dhar identified agricultural market access as a major sticking point. He argued that President Donald Trump remains closely aligned with powerful American farm interests and is likely to continue pressing India to open its agricultural sector. Dhar also pointed to disputes over intellectual property rights, labour standards and trade imbalances as unresolved issues. He questioned whether any agreement with the current US administration can provide the predictability businesses seek, given Washington's willingness to revisit or pressure trading partners even after agreements are signed. More broadly, Dhar argued that India's manufacturing competitiveness and standards compliance remain concerns. Despite years of policy efforts, he noted that manufacturing's share of the economy has declined rather than expanded. His conclusion is stark: unless India improves product quality, regulatory enforcement and global competitiveness, future trade agreements may deliver fewer benefits than policymakers hope. #india #usa #unitedstates #trade #tradedeal #tariffs #business #export #supplychain #geopolitics =================================================================== Footage used in the video is also sourced from Reuters under our active subscription (Client No. S-88259) Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @stratnewsglobal   Join StratNews Global's WhatsApp Channel to get the latest updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb1W... Join Nitin Gokhale's Strategic Group WhatsApp Channel to get the latest updates from articles on our website and videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029... Since many of our well-wishers requested a UPI payment id to contribute and support us, here’s the link, which gives us 100% of what you choose: https://stratnewsglobal.com/support-us/ You can also click and buy a YouTube Super Thanks(the heart icon where you liked this video), which directly supports StratNewsGlobal, with 70% of your chosen amount. Leave your comments, questions, and feedback. Like and share our videos. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Click on the 🔔icon to get notified of our latest uploads. To get instant updates join our telegram circle - https://t.me/stratnewsglobalbroadcast    / @sng_news   For latest global news and quick, to the point analysis of developments around the globe.    / @stratnewsglobal_tech   For the latest news and developments on space, science & technology.