So far, six rounds of negotiations with the US have been completed, and aimed to conclude the first phase of the pact by the fall of this year

PTI New Delhi

India is at present negotiating free trade agreements with a number of trading partners, including the US and European Union, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. India is working with its 'trusted' trading partners through these agreements to boost economic ties, he said.

"We have all seen trade being weaponised. We have all seen the importance of having trusted partners around the world," he said, adding that at this moment, India is in talks with individual countries and groups of nations totalling about 50.

The remarks come at a time when a steep hike in tariffs by the US has disrupted global trade. The Donald Trump administration has imposed a 50 per cent import duty on Indian goods entering American markets since August 27. The minister informed that GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) too is interested in trade pact talks. GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region - Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.

New Delhi has already implemented a comprehensive trade agreement with the UAE. Talks with Oman are on the verge of completion. Bahrain and Qatar want to enter into negotiations with India, he said, adding that the GCC is also talking.

"The whole six-nation group would like to engage. We are talking to New Zealand...We are in active discussions with the US and with 27-nation EU," the minister said here at the Ficci annual general meeting. India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement. So far, six rounds of negotiations have been completed. They have aimed to conclude the first phase of the pact by the fall of this year.