MUSCAT: India has formally notified the procedures for implementing tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) under the Oman-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), paving the way for preferential access for a range of Omani exports including dates, marble, aluminium products, copper weld wire and petrochemicals.
The notification, issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on July 13, follows the entry into force of the India-Oman CEPA on June 1, providing the operational framework for allocating quota-based tariff concessions to eligible imports from the Sultanate of Oman.
The move marks another step in strengthening bilateral trade ties between the two countries by translating the trade agreement into practical import procedures for Indian businesses.
Under the new rules, fresh and processed dates from Oman will receive immediate tariff elimination on annual imports of up to 2,000 tonnes. India currently imposes a 30 per cent import duty on dates, making the concession a significant opportunity for Omani exporters seeking greater access to one of the world's largest consumer markets.
The agreement also grants preferential treatment to Omani marble exports. Import duties on marble and travertine blocks will be reduced from 40 per cent to 25 per cent for shipments valued at a minimum of $150 per metric tonne, subject to an annual quota of 100,000 tonnes. Marble slabs will also benefit from tariff reductions under separate quota arrangements.
In addition to natural resources, the CEPA provides phased tariff reductions for several industrial products, including aluminium ingots, aluminium billets, aluminium wire and copper weld wire, alongside a wide range of petrochemical products such as ethylene glycol, linear alkylbenzenes, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, polyurethanes and PVC resins. Most of these tariff concessions will be introduced gradually over periods ranging from five to 10 years under specified quota allocations.
The DGFT said Indian importers seeking to benefit from the lower tariffs must present a Certificate of Origin issued by the competent authority in Oman when clearing imported consignments through customs. The tariff quotas will operate according to India's financial year, running from April 1 to March 31. Applications for quota allocations will be submitted electronically through the DGFT's Import Management System, while quota authorisations will remain valid for up to 12 months or until the end of the financial year, whichever comes first.
For the 2026-27 financial year, the DGFT said a separate public notice would specify the application window for quota allocations, with eligible quantities to be distributed on a pro-rata basis for the remainder of the financial year following the agreement's entry into force.
The India-Oman CEPA is expected to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries by lowering trade barriers, improving market access and encouraging greater investment and industrial collaboration. The latest notification provides the administrative framework needed for businesses to begin utilising the agreement's preferential tariff benefits, particularly in sectors where Oman holds competitive export advantages, including mining, metals, petrochemicals and agricultural products.
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