Regulations, news, guides & documentation — everything an exporter or importer needs.
The 57th GST Council (8 Oct 2026) recommended faster refunds — acknowledgement in 10 days, 90% sanctioned on risk basis, orders in 3 working days — plus refunds on plant & machinery, decriminalisation and a higher prosecution threshold. Changes take effect only via CBIC notifications.
Adani Airport Holdings has reportedly restricted acceptance of Russia-bound air cargo booked on Aeroflot and OFAC-designated Volga-Dnepr at Mumbai, citing US sanctions. Reports put stranded freight (pharma, machinery, spares) at roughly 15 to 150 tonnes with demurrage mounting. Exporters shipping to Russia via Mumbai should re-route.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal announced on 7 Oct 2026 a new FTA Utilisation Cell to help businesses tap India's trade pacts — EFTA TEPA, the UK CETA (in force since 15 July) and the coming EU deal. Working with Export Promotion Councils, industry bodies and states, it aims to turn signed agreements into actual preferential-tariff uptake.
Around 6 Oct 2026, DGTR launched five anti-dumping investigations covering persulphates, clavulanic acid, counterbalance forklifts, internally grooved copper tubes and caprolactam — mainly from China, plus the EU, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia and the US. A separate countervailing probe targets the copper tubes.
DGFT Public Notice No. 31/2026-27 (30 Sep 2026) again extends the timeline for holders to surrender unutilised Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) allocated for the import of 10 lakh MT of raw sugar. It affects TRQ allottees who could not use their full quota and gives them more time to hand back the balance.
Through Trade Notice No. 27/2026-27 (14 Sep 2026), DGFT has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of India's non-preferential rules of origin by amending Para 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. The draft sets clear origin tests — substantial transformation beyond 'simple operations', change in tariff heading or 35% value addition — and keeps Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin issuance online via trade.gov.in, with self-certification for status-holder manufacturers.
DGFT Public Notice No. 32/2026-27 (9 Oct 2026) allocates a 5,841 MT tariff-rate-quota window for sugar exports (HS 1701) from India to the EU for 2026-27. APEDA administers eligibility and recommends the Certificate of Origin issued by the Additional DGFT, Mumbai; exports to the EU under the TRQ remain "Free" subject to conditions.
DGFT Policy Circular No. 02/2026-27 (9 Oct 2026) clarifies that silver under ITC(HS) 71069221 — "Restricted" under Notification 17/2026-27 — may be imported against a valid DGFT Import Authorisation alone. Nominated-Agency, IIBX Qualified-Jeweller or EOU status is not an extra condition unless the authorisation itself says so.
DGFT Notification 42/2026-27 (9 Oct 2026) amends FTP Para 4.49 so eligible foreign entities — diamond miners, sightholders and brokers/auction houses — may import, auction, sell and re-export rough diamonds in Special Notified Zones under customs supervision. Eligibility follows the Income-tax Act, 2025.
CBIC Circular No. 45/2026-Customs (9 Oct 2026) clarifies that stationary, grid-scale and industrial lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems under 8507 60 00 are NOT "power banks" and keep the 10% concessional BCD. Field officers had been denying the rate and charging 20%.
India's Interest Subvention Scheme under the Export Promotion Mission gives MSME exporters 2.75% p.a. off pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit, capped at ₹50 lakh a year. EXIM Bank is now the implementing agency (DGFT Trade Notice 17/2026-27). A practical guide as RoDTEP nears its 30 Sept cut-off.
A beginner's FAQ for first-time exporters from India, answering the 20 most common questions — from IEC, AD Code and RCMC registration to HS codes, export documents, Incoterms, GST and LUT, payment security, RoDTEP claims, finding buyers, and the mistakes that cost new exporters money.
A practical walkthrough of the import customs clearance process in India — from advance Bill of Entry filing on ICEGATE through assessment, examination, duty payment, and Out of Charge, plus common delays and how to avoid them.
A plain-English guide to the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) — what it is, why it's mandatory for exporters in India, who needs it, the documents and ₹500 fee, how to apply on the DGFT portal, and the mandatory annual updation that keeps it active in 2026.