The Ministry of Economic Development, Transport & Trade has held consultations with relevant stakeholders on technical barriers to trade (TBT) as part of the official negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Maldives and India.

The consultations were held to identify challenges faced by businesses and explore solutions that could be incorporated into the proposed agreement.

The discussions focused on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), which refer to regulatory requirements that can affect trade between countries, including product standards, testing procedures, and labelling requirements.

Government agencies and companies involved in the Maldives' export sector participated in the consultations. Discussions focused on import and export trade between the Maldives and India, including sanitary requirements to ensure goods are safe for human and animal health, as well as phytosanitary requirements aimed at protecting plants.

The Ministry recently launched formal negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with India, with the consultations forming part of the negotiation process.

The Maldives and India agreed to begin negotiations on the proposed FTA during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the Maldives last year.

In March this year, the two countries also agreed on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the negotiations. The TOR sets out the scope, framework, and guiding principles for negotiating the agreement before a final FTA is concluded.

As work on the Maldives-India Free Trade Agreement continues, the Maldives implemented its Free Trade Agreement with China in January 2025. The Maldives has also signed a Preferential Trade Agreement with Türkiye, with preparatory work between the two countries continuing before the agreement comes into force.