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Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that successful conclusion of India's proposed free trade agreements (FTAs) with the UK, Oman and four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will reflect its commitment to trade liberalisation and economic integration at a time when the whole world is turning protectionist. It said that these three pacts also reflect a shift in India's focus from east to west in terms of preferential trade partnerships. 

GTRI said the FTAs have become pivotal instruments for India's economic expansion and integration into the world market. These nations and the bloc are eager to finalize these agreements before the upcoming general elections. The talks are on the verge of conclusion. Signing of these three agreements will take India's FTA tally from 13 to 16. It stated that everyone wants to do an FTA with India. The main reason for this is India's high import duties, which make it difficult for these countries to access India's large and rapidly growing market. It noted that India's most important FTAs are with countries located in the east of India: ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It said that in all the new FTAs, India is negotiating many non-trade areas such as sustainable development, digital, IPR, labour, gender, MSME, government procurement, and competition.

It said government procurement is one of the limited policy tools still available to the government to incentivise domestic producers. India should not agree to stop preferential treatment to domestic suppliers in the government procurement chapter. Further, it said that India's trade agreement with the UK would have a positive impact on domestic export sectors such as silver, metal scrap, petroleum products, alcohol, machinery and medicine.