The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, organized a day-long workshop on "Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD): Evolving Policy Landscape" at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.

The workshop was the first in a proposed series of consultations aimed at strengthening India's strategic approach to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) in the context of evolving global trade disciplines and ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Addressing the gathering, Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal emphasized that Trade and Sustainable Development is a cross-sectoral policy issue requiring an integrated approach encompassing trade, industry, sustainability and competitiveness. Noting that sustainability regulations and unilateral environmental measures have become enduring features of the global trading system, he underlined the need to create an enabling ecosystem to support industry in adopting sustainable practices. He observed that early adaptation would strengthen India's global competitiveness and better position the country to respond to the evolving international trade landscape.

The workshop featured four thematic sessions on India's domestic carbon framework, global trends in TSD provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the evolving global carbon regulatory framework, and strategic options for shaping India's future approach to Trade and Sustainable Development.

The discussions focused on the growing importance of sustainability-related measures, including carbon markets, carbon pricing mechanisms, carbon border adjustment measures, sustainability standards and regulatory cooperation, and their implications for India's trade and industrial competitiveness.