India-Oman CEPA active, granting near-total duty-free access

A major free trade agreement between India and Oman entered into force on Monday, granting Indian exporters near-total duty-free access to the Omani market and marking a significant deepening of economic ties between the two nations. The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was formally announced by officials from both countries.

The pact provides India with 100 percent duty-free access for its exports across 98.08 percent of Oman’s tariff lines, covering 99.38 percent of India’s export value to the country. This immediate market access is expected to boost a wide range of Indian sectors, including textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and processed foods, chemicals, plastics, gems and jewellery, and marine products. Specific items like natural honey, cashews, boneless meat, bakery products, and various dairy and fishery products will now enter Oman without tariffs, where some previously faced duties of up to 100 percent.

In return, India has extended tariff concessions on a majority of its own tariff lines for Omani goods. A key concession for Omani exporters is duty-free access for up to 2,000 tonnes of dates into India annually....