Piyush Goyal

Rule Changes

Lead negotiator for Indian trade deals

India has been the world's second-largest buyer of Russian oil since 2022, snapping up discounted crude while Western nations sanctioned Moscow. On February 2, 2026, Trump announced that Modi agreed to stop these purchases in exchange for US tariff cuts from 50% to 18%, ending a trade war that escalated for nearly a year.

Updated May 29

Rule Changes

Defending government policies

India's Parliament passed four labor codes in 2020 that condensed 29 existing laws into a streamlined framework. After codes took effect in November 2025, approximately 300 million workers struck February 12, 2026, disrupting banking, transportation, and industry across over 600 districts—organizers called it the largest coordinated labor action since reforms began.

Updated May 27

Rule Changes

Announced FTA conclusion; expects implementation by end of 2026

After 19 years, 14 formal rounds, and a January sprint that defied skeptics, India and the European Union concluded their free trade agreement on January 26, 2026. EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, attending India's Republic Day as chief guests, jointly announced the deal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 27.

Updated May 20