Mexico and India start talks for a trade agreement

Mexico and India have formally launched negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement aimed at increasing bilateral trade, diversifying markets, and promoting investment, the Ministry of Economy announced.

According to an official statement from the ministry, both countries have signed the terms of reference for the agreement, establishing the objectives, procedures, and timeline for the negotiations. However, the statement did not specify a deadline for completing the talks.

The negotiations will cover market access for goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade facilitation, and dispute settlement, according to the Ministry of Economy.

The agreement will also address sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and trade defense measures.

The process follows an understanding reached by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025.

The announcement coincided with a visit to Mexico by Rajesh Agrawal, secretary of India's Ministry of Commerce. His meetings included a session with Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, Mexico's undersecretary of foreign trade, who represented Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.

The Ministry of Economy has identified potential opportunities in the automotive, chemical, electronics, pharmaceutical, agri-food, energy, and critical minerals sectors, as well as in medical devices and advanced manufacturing. These industries are among the Mexican government's strategic priorities.

According to the ministry, the proposed agreement would expand opportunities for Mexican products and companies to enter the Indian market while helping diversify supply chains.

Both delegations also explored the possibility of organizing a Mexican business mission to India in the first quarter of 2027 to facilitate business meetings and identify new trade opportunities.