‘India sharpening trade strategy to boost manufacturing competitiveness’

NEW DELHI: India is sharpening its global trade strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of its manufacturing industry through progress in trade engagements with the US and the EU, heavy industries and steel minister HD Kumaraswamy said at an Acma event on Tuesday.“On the trade front, India has adopted a calibrated and strategic engagement with key global partners. Engagements are designed to improve market access and enhance global competitiveness for Indian manufacturers,” Kumaraswamy said. Referring to the India-US trade engagement, he pointed to commitments towards preferential access for select automotive components and the easing of certain trade-restrictive measures. On the India-EU trade deal, he said it is focused on addressing non-tariff barriers, regulatory cooperation, and aligning standards in sustainability and advanced automotive technologies.Siam president and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD & CEO Shailesh Chandra said India has a rare opportunity to position itself as a trusted, high-quality, tech-led automotive supplier, but this requires close alignment between govt, OEMs and the component industry.He said, “OEMs’ ability to design, manufacture and export vehicles increasingly depends on the strength and sophistication of our content partners,” adding that global supply chains are now shaped not just by cost efficiency but also by resilience and speed.