The biggest change this week: the India–New Zealand FTA came into force on 20 October 2026, so Indian goods now enter New Zealand duty-free if they meet the rules of origin. Solar exporters face bad news from the US, and jewellery exporters should recheck their drawback figures.
New Zealand now gives zero duty on Indian goods that qualify under the agreement's rules of origin. Claim the preference with the correct certificate of origin and keep your origin working file. See our guide on exporting to New Zealand under the FTA.
Notification No. 85/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 15 October 2026, amends the drawback schedule (Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.)) and lowers the rates for tariff items 711301, 711302 and 711401. For example, the rate for 711302 and 711401 goes from 29,501.09 to 26,859.02. Check the notification for the unit that applies to your item, and update your costing.
The SEZ (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 893(E), 15 October 2026) let SEZ units take back duty-paid goods a DTA buyer refuses within 30 days of clearance, resell them, and take DTA goods back for repair. The unit has to keep a separate inventory and show the buyer did not take input tax credit.
A DGFT trade notice published on 21 October 2026 advises exporters to do extra due diligence before dealing with Julfikar Fashions Limited, Bangladesh. If you have open orders with this company, use secure payment terms.
The USITC confirmed injury on 14 October 2026 in the case on crystalline silicon solar cells and modules from India, Indonesia and Laos. Final rates reported for India are 123.04% anti-dumping and 126.09% countervailing duty. Commerce is expected to issue the orders in early November.
On 16 October 2026 President Trump signed an order waiving measures under the US Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, including possible tariffs of up to 100% on big buyers of Russian crude such as India (Business Today, 17 October 2026). The measures are suspended, not repealed. The 10% Section 301 duty on most Indian goods is unchanged.
During his India visit on 20 October, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two sides were "weeks, not months" from finishing a trade agreement. No terms or signing date have been published.
Date
What
Early November 2026 (reported 2 Nov)
US AD/CVD orders on Indian solar cells and modules expected
15 November 2026
ECGC policyholders: declare invoices that are 30 days or more overdue, as the policy requires
Before 31 December 2026
RoDTEP and RoSCTL are notified only up to 31 December 2026; watch for an extension
16 December 2026
Scheduled signing of the India–EU FTA
Last checked: 22 October 2026.
Drafted with AI help from public sources.
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