India's trade deals to cover 75% of global commerce at better rates than rivals: Goyal

India's commerce minister Piyush Goyal announced on September 3 that planned free trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Brazil-led bloc, Chile, SACU, GCC, and Israel, plus upgrades to existing pacts, will give India preferential access to 75% of global trade. Goyal stressed the key measure of success is securing tariff rates lower than competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, not the total trade coverage figure. He said these deals would provide India more favorable rates across most developed markets, removing external constraints on exporters. The minister added that protections for sensitive sectors like farmers and fishermen are ensured, and set a 2030 target of $2 trillion in exports with true value addition. He also dismissed GDP data criticism from economists as sour grapes.