
India strengthens economic ties with G7: Boost in high-tech, pharma exports; Canada is only exception
Representative image
India's trade relations with the G7 countries have seen robust growth, with deepening economic engagement across key sectors, according to a new report by data science firm Rubix.
The G7, comprising the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan has emerged as a major trade bloc for India. Except for Canada, all G7 countries now rank among India's top 30 trade destinations, highlighting a strong and diversified export-import partnership.
In FY25, India's total exports to the G7 stood at $138 billion, marking a 13%compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since FY21. Imports from the group touched $110 billion, rising at a CAGR of 12% during the same period, according to the report as quoted by news agency ANI.
Overall, India's total trade (exports plus imports) with G7 nations reached $248 billion in FY25, growing at a 13 per cent CAGR over the last four years.
India also maintained a healthy trade surplus of $28 billion with the G7 in FY25, up by 16 per cent CAGR from FY21. The country enjoys a trade surplus with four members of the bloc- the US, UK, France, and Italy.
The share of India's goods exports to G7 countries increased from 29% in FY20 to 31 % in FY25.
Meanwhile, imports from the group have declined from 18 % to 15 % during the same period.
Sector-wise, telecom transmission equipment, including mobile phones, and pharmaceuticals emerged as key export items. These sectors contribute significantly to India's trade basket, accounting for 5-16% and 7-12% respectively. Notably, India's mobile phone exports soared 55% in FY25, reaching $24 billion, with smartphones leading exports to several G7 countries.
India's pharmaceutical sector also plays a crucial role, supplying over 50% of the global vaccine demand, 40% of the US's generic drug requirements, and 25% of total medicine consumption in the UK.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
The G7's unravelling and India-Canada reset
The just-concluded G7 meeting marks a key moment, both for the group and for India. The G7's core agenda — supporting economic growth in the developing world — stood in stark contrast to the strategic imperative of addressing the spiralling Iran-Israel conflict in West Asia. Unsurprisingly, the only strong outcome of the summit was the G7 Leaders' statement on the Iran-Israel situation — highlighting that consensus, when achieved, is more likely on geopolitical crises than on economic cooperation. This sense of drift was amplified by US President Donald Trump's abrupt departure from the summit. This year's G7 meeting may have been a forewarning to how the US's economic and strategic repositioning could test the limits of the western economic consensus. Trump's protectionist policies, especially his aggressive tariff regime, have generated considerable friction between the US and its economic partners — none more so than this year's host, Canada. This reflects a troubling reality that the G7's economic heft and global influence are increasingly being contested as it faces new realities. The G7 faces three key issues: How does it retain its core economic agenda, primarily due to a US that is increasingly inward-looking; second, an America under Trump that is distancing itself from long-standing economic partners; and third, the group's inability to respond cohesively to the rapidly shifting global order driven by emerging powers. Amid this backdrop of uncertainty and disunity, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's visit to Canada marked a surprising but welcome turn in bilateral relations. This thaw comes after a prolonged period of diplomatic strain under former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's tenure. The renewal of ties signals more than a reset — it hints at a strategic recalibration of the G7 itself in response to the shifting global economic landscape, especially the rising influence of the Global South. Canada's India outreach takes on deeper significance as both countries re-evaluate their foreign policy alignments. For Canada, caught between an unpredictable US and an increasingly untrustworthy China, engagement with India offers a stabilising alternative. In this regard, the India-Canada Joint Statement's emphasis on 'shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,' along with mutual sensitivities marks a significant and welcome departure from the tensions of recent years. The decision to reinstate respective high commissioners, resume senior ministerial and working-level engagements, and identify areas of cooperation that could eventually lead to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) augurs well for the bilateral relations and demonstrates strategic maturity and intent in Canada to insulate the relationship from domestic political turbulence. This diplomatic reset marks a key follow through from PM Mark Carney's campaign promise to relook at India-Canada ties, signalling a possible pragmatic approach towards India despite opposition from certain quarters in Canada. Canada's long-term geo-economic strategy is evolving, and engagement with India is likely to become a key component of it both bilaterally and as an actor in the Indo-Pacific. The shifting character of the G7 was perhaps most visible at this year's summit. Its inability to maintain a unified position on Ukraine, evidenced by the retraction of a previously agreed statement, revealed the continued centrality of US support — not just in diplomacy, but also in financial and security commitments. Yet, the presence of India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa served as a subtle but powerful signal that the G7 is being compelled to engage with the Global South in new and meaningful ways. The G7, once a club of like-minded wealthy democracies, is at a crossroads. A dual dynamic of Western recalibration and Southern assertion is defining its current evolution. While internal cohesion among Western nations remains under pressure, a simultaneous embrace of emerging powers is becoming necessary. The road ahead will likely require balancing continued engagement with a less predictable US and deeper integration with economies that are assuming a growing role in global political and economic affairs. The group's future relevance will depend not only on its ability to maintain unity within but also on its willingness to share space and shape the agenda with rising powers like India. The India-Canada thaw, in this context, is more than a bilateral correction as it signals that rebalancing of Western global economies may not remain just a choice but a necessity. Harsh V Pant is vice president, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi and Vivek Mishra is deputy director, Strategic Studies Programme, fellow, China Studies, ORF. The views expressed are personal.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Americans split on AI's future as leadership stalls and classrooms struggle
In a rare moment of political symmetry, Americans across all ideologies have found common ground, not in unity of belief, but in collective uncertainty. Artificial Intelligence, once the darling of Silicon Valley hype and academic theory, now stands at the centre of a divided American consciousness. According to the NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey, opinions on AI are fractured and unresolved, with no clear party, age group, or ideological bloc leading the charge. The future, it seems, is no longer left or right; it's undecided. This ambivalence plays out in stark numbers. Just 7% of Americans believe AI will make their lives 'much better,' while 16% believe it will make things 'much worse.' The bulk of the nation hovers in the gray middle, unsure, anxious, and watching. Policy paralysis in Washington Despite AI's growing ubiquity, from customer service to content creation, Washington remains stubbornly inert. The few regulatory frameworks introduced under President Joe Biden have largely been dismantled by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump's rollback of AI oversight has since become part of a broader Republican embrace of tech deregulation, allowing powerful AI corporations to operate in an ethical vacuum. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Laku keras kat Guardian! Umur 40-an pun tak perlu kolagen dah URUHIME MOMOKO Undo Yet, this isn't a battle of partisan lines. The poll reveals that Democrats, Republicans, and independents use AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini at nearly identical rates. This technological neutrality, though rare in a polarized nation, has resulted not in consensus but in chaos. Schools on the frontline If AI is the future, then America's classrooms are its proving grounds. But here, too, the nation is torn. A narrow majority, 53%, believes integrating AI into education better prepares students for the future. The remaining 47% argue the opposite, fearing dependency, diminished learning, and ethical blind spots. Educators are divided, not by doctrine but by desperation. Some are reverting to old-school tactics, handwritten essays, in-person exams, and AI detection software, while others are innovating with AI-integrated assignments. No red, no blue—just gray Surprisingly, the AI debate defies political stereotypes. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats support classroom AI use, compared to 50% of Republicans and 51% of independents. On the flip side, half of Republicans and nearly half of independents say banning AI better equips students, a view shared by 43% of Democrats. This strange ideological neutrality extends beyond education. When asked whether AI will improve their families' futures, 50% of Republicans said yes, alongside 42% of Democrats and 41% of independents. Similarly, 39% of Republicans and 47% of Democrats believe AI will worsen lives. For once, the partisan compass is spinning without direction. A nation holding its breath Even age, often a key indicator in tech adoption, offers no clear fault lines. Younger adults, ages 18–29, are evenly split on whether schools should embrace or ban AI. Those aged 30–44 lean slightly more toward integration, but older generations remain similarly indecisive. The result: A technological revolution without a generational leader. Despite AI's explosive potential, the national mood is less one of enthusiasm and more of caution, an eerie calm before an uncharted storm. Waiting for a tipping point In the absence of decisive legislation, AI's integration into American life is being dictated not by lawmakers but by market forces, educators, and individual choices. Companies continue to roll out AI education tools, OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu, Google's Gemini for education, and Microsoft Copilot, while platforms like Khan Academy experiment with AI-powered tutors. Yet without a guiding national vision, these tools risk deepening inequality and confusion. The NBC poll doesn't merely capture public opinion; it reveals a country stuck in philosophical limbo. The question is no longer whether AI will shape the future; it already is. The question now is: whose future will it serve, and at what cost? Until America decides, AI remains a mirror, not of what we believe, but of what we fear to answer. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Google was wrong to...': Europe court advisor on $4.74 billion Android fine
Google has faced a significant setback in its multi-year legal battle against the European Union's (EU) antitrust authorities, as a top legal adviser to the EU's highest court has backed a 4.124 billion euros ($4.74 billion) fine. Juliane Kokott, an advocate general at the European Union's Court of Justice in Luxembourg, recommended that judges uphold the penalty against the search giant for its contractual obligations on device manufacturers using its Android operating system. According to a report by news agency Reuters, Kokott advised the court to confirm the reduced fine set by the lower tribunal. Judges, who usually follow four out of five such non-binding opinions, will rule in the coming months. She asserts that Google was wrong to challenge the fine, stating that for years, the company held a dominant position across several Android ecosystem markets, which allowed it to unfairly benefit by ensuring users utilized its services, particularly Google Search. Google expresses disappointment with the opinion In response, a Google spokesperson expressed disappointment with the opinion, arguing that if it were to be fully adopted by the Court, it "would discourage investment in open platforms and ultimately harm Android users, partners and app developers." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "Android has created more choice for everyone and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying. The dispute dates back to 2018 when the European Commission initially levied a record 4.34 billion euros fine against Google. The Commission alleged that Google had unfairly leveraged its digital dominance by imposing conditions on Android device manufacturers and network operators, effectively ensuring that search traffic from Android devices was directed to Google's own search engine. Google first appealed this decision at the EU's General Court, where judges largely upheld the Commission's findings but reduced the original penalty to 4.12 billion euros in 2022. Google subsequently appealed this reduced fine to the Court of Justice. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now