India mandates licenses for ASEAN gold and precious metal jewelry
Business
Starting April 1, 2026, India has made it mandatory to get a license before importing gold and other precious metal jewelry from ASEAN countries (think Thailand, Indonesia, and friends).
This new rule covers everything from pearl necklaces to diamond rings.
India to review ASEAN trade agreement
ASEAN makes up about 11% of India's global trade. Last year alone, trade between the two hit $123 billion.
But here's the catch: India imported $84 billion worth of goods from ASEAN while exporting only $39 billion back.
With imports rising way faster than exports over the past decade, India is looking to review its trade agreement with ASEAN to try and balance things out.