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India says no US deal without tariff edgeExport resilience, fall in oil prices help New DelhiDeal delay risks high tariffs and business uncertaintyOfficials say both sides working, but gaps remainIndia and the US did not reach a consensus on a trade agreement in recent ‌talks, with New Delhi holding out for a better deal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi draws confidence from new trading partners, eased economic risks ​and political gains at home, officials and analysts said.India's ‌Trade Minister, Piyush Goyal, said on Monday both countries remain "fully engaged" in their commitment to an agreement which is balanced and ‌beneficial to both economies.After months of ⁠talks, the two nations failed to ‌finalise an interim trade agreement during US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's visit ‌to New Delhi last month, despite expectations from both sides that a limited deal was within reach.There was no consensus because Washington did not offer assurances on New ⁠Delhi's key demands: a tariff advantage over competitors such as China and no new US levies after the deal, said an Indian government official aware of the talks."Our position is clear — we don't intend to rush into a deal that is not on favourable terms or compromise on red lines like ceding ground on agriculture," the official said.Washington had hoped for quick trade concessions from a strategic partner as President Donald Trump prepares new tariffs likely to come into effect later this month, officials and analysts said, while India's holdout risks higher levies on its exports and prolonged uncertainty for businesses.Goyal had been upbeat about a consensus but a day after the talks with Greer, he said the US deal would not be implemented unless an advantage is ensured, ​indicating New Delhi's hardened position and lack of urgency despite the risk of higher tariffs.Like most countries, the bulk of goods from India currently face a 10% US tariff. But the Trump administration is expected to introduce steeper tariffs later this month through probes into excess industrial capacity. India has denied US charges of surplus capacity.Washington has already proposed ‌new tariffs of up to 12.5% on dozens of nations, ⁠including India, over allegations they failed ​to curb trade in goods made with forced labour.The US view has been that India needs to earn the preferential treatment ​on trade provisions it has sought by making its own concessions, a US source aware of the talks said.The Indian official and the US source did not wish to be named as negotiations are confidential. The Indian trade ministry and the Office of the US Trade Representative did not respond to emailed requests for comment ahead of the story's publication."I had fantastic meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer when he visited Delhi in June," Goyal said on Monday. "Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an agreement that is balanced, commercially meaningful, and delivers tangible benefits for businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries."Indian Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the top official in the ministry, said: "The framework deal is ready, whenever it is the right time, it will be signed".A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington remained engaged with India and still expected an agreement, but did not offer a timeline.The official however added India had at times been slow, bureaucratic and difficult in the negotiations, signalling that no quick deal was likely.Asked about the impasse, White House spokesman ‌Kush Desai said: "The Trump administration continues to productively engage with Indian ‌officials to finalise a historic trade deal that puts Americans and ⁠America First."Rising exports, new trade deals with other countries and blocs and eased economic risks have strengthened India's hand, trade analysts ⁠said.In April-June, India's overall goods exports rose about 15% from a year ⁠earlier despite disruptions from the war on Iran, buoyed by pricier petroleum shipments, officials said.Exports to Gulf countries have recovered to pre-war levels, rising to $5.3bn in May from $2.62bn in March as traders shifted to alternative shipping routes, while exports to the US edged up to $17.29bn during April and May.India is also broadening access to other developed markets, with a UK free trade pact set to take effect this month, and an EU agreement expected by early next year."Indian negotiators have gained some leverage in the talks, given its strong economy, diversification initiatives with other partners, and its strategic standing in the world," said Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at ​the Washington-based Asia Society Policy Institute, and a former US trade official.The interim US-Iran peace deal improved India's economic outlook by easing oil prices, Goldman Sachs economist Santanu Sengupta said in a report.The bank has raised its 2026 growth forecast for India to 6.8%, and lowered its inflation and current-account deficit estimates, suggesting New Delhi has more economic room to hold out for better terms.A weaker rupee has also improved exporters' competitiveness.India is also calculating that some US trade measures could face legal or political setbacks, another Indian official said.A group of 22 Democratic state attorneys general have already filed objections to the Trump administration's proposed tariffs from probes into forced labour.Trade analysts said legal uncertainty over US tariffs, combined with Modi's recent state election victories, have helped India resist a rushed deal.Senior leaders of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have argued publicly that trade agreements should protect Indian farmers and small businesses, two politically influential constituencies that New Delhi has long ‌shielded in trade negotiations."India realises that delaying — ​or even abandoning — a rushed deal may be more prudent than locking into obligations whose costs could far exceed any temporary tariff relief," said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, and a former trade negotiator. 

The General Tax Authority (GTA) has organised a specialised workshop for taxpayers on valuation for the calculation of Capital Gains Tax, as part of its efforts to enhance tax awareness, raise compliance levels, and clarify the requirements and procedures related to the implementation of the tax.The workshop aimed to enable taxpayers to better understand the regulatory frameworks and approved valuation methodologies.The GTA said in a statement on Tuesday that the workshop covered a number of technical and legislative topics, beginning with an overview of the Capital Gains Tax law.It also addressed the methodology for calculating Capital Gains Tax and the applicable tax rates, in addition to explaining the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS 13), including its definition, purpose in the context of Capital Gains Tax, and scope of application.The workshop also featured a detailed presentation on approved valuation methodologies and the requirements for preparing valuation reports, while highlighting the most commonly used valuation approaches. This contributed to strengthening taxpayers’ understanding of the technical mechanisms adopted in calculating the tax.This workshop forms a part of a series of awareness and specialised programmes organised by the GTA to support tax compliance, promote transparency, and provide taxpayers with the knowledge needed to understand and apply tax legislation and procedures in line with best practices.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) expects the trade agreement between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union to yield significant economic gains for both sides, while also strengthening initiatives aimed at countering protectionism.In its weekly commentary, QNB said, "Last year, the global economic outlook was marked by a sharp escalation of geopolitical uncertainty and major policy shocks. In April, the US administration under President Trump abruptly announced sweeping tariffs, centred on a 10% baseline levy on imports, with even higher rates on selected countries. This represented a massive negative shock for trade, as the US accounts for 26% of the global economy, and was previously predominantly open to trade with an average tariff rate of less than 2%.As a result, the outlook for international trade, as well as for the global economy, began to deteriorate sharply, on fears of the impact of massive supply-chain disruptions and potentially escalating trade wars. Similar worries resurfaced this year as the US continued to signal the use of tariffs as an "economic weapon” to achieve broader foreign policy objectives."However, rising US protectionism did not trigger widespread tariff wars as was initially feared. In fact, even as the US increased the burden for its trade partners, and against a backdrop of trade fragmentation, the rest of the world has continued to move towards deeper integration. Most major economies continue to view trade as essential to their growth models and are actively pursuing deeper integration via new or deeper trade agreements."Previously delayed trade negotiations have regained momentum, as countries seek further diversification of their partners to mitigate the fallout of US protectionism. Among these initiatives, the European Union-Mercosur trade deal returned to the centre stage, after 25 years of arduous negotiations.Despite large potential gains, the deal had been delayed over resistance to the Mercosur's agricultural market access to the EU, and environmental governance in the South American bloc. However, the balance of strategic priorities has shifted, as growing geopolitical fragmentation and trade risks have increased pressure on the EU to accelerate trade integration."European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen finally signed the agreement last month with the South American Mercosur bloc, encompassing Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The deal could create one of the largest free trade areas in the world, with 31 countries, 721mn people, and close to 21% of global GDP. However, the deal still faces obstacles, with a narrow majority in the Parliament referring the agreement to the EU Court of Justice (EUCJ). The EUCJ could take up to 2 years to determine whether it is compatible with European law. In the meantime, the European Commission can implement a provisional application of the treaty, until hurdles for the full implementation are passed."Despite the expected resistance, the potential economic gains are considerable. The agreement provides for the gradual elimination of tariffs on around 92% of bilateral trade. Transition periods extend up to 15 years for the most sensitive products. Nevertheless, progress on this landmark accord would be an encouraging sign. Even as the world adjusts to a more protectionist US, the outlook on trade policy across the world is being mitigated by non-US initiatives."The bank pointed out, "First, prospective gains in trade volumes are significant, especially for the smaller and relatively less trade-integrated Mercosur. Total bilateral trade in goods and services is close to EUR153bn per year, which represents less than 1% of total combined GDP. In comparison, this is only a fraction of the 3.5% figure for bilateral trade in goods and services between the US and the EU, indicating a large margin for increasing bilateral flows."For Mercosur, the agreement offers improved access to one of the world's largest and highest-income markets. The phased elimination of tariffs on the vast majority of exports to the EU is expected to support agricultural and agri-industrial exports, as well as export diversification towards manufacturing.For the EU, the deal will expand access to a large South American market with over 271mn consumers, lowering trade costs for industrial goods, machinery, chemicals, and services, while providing improved access to valuable natural resources. Additionally, it is considered an important geopolitical win, in times of stern competition with China and the US."Second, the agreement will lead to larger investment flows and therefore growth, particularly for the less-developed Mercosur. EU firms already account for roughly 35-45% of the total FDI stock in Mercosur, making the EU the largest investor bloc. The total is equivalent to more than EUR390bn, with strong exposure to manufacturing, energy, and financial services.The new agreement will provide improved market access and legal certainty, supporting additional greenfield investments. In a reasonable scenario, the EU FDI stock could grow by 10-20% over the next 10 years, which could generate a boost to GDP of over 0.6%. For the EU, Mercosur countries hold significant potential in renewable energies and critical raw materials, creating opportunities aligned with the EU's industrial strategies.QNB concluded, "All in all, the Mercosur-EU trade agreement offers significant potential economic gains, as well as adds to the initiatives challenging the narrative of increased protectionism. GDP gains, backed by trade and investment flows, are expected to be understandably larger for the less-developed Mercosur. The EU stands to gain through improved market access for its companies, investment opportunities in high-growth sectors, and enhanced diversification of supply chains, particularly in areas related to energy transition and critical raw materials." 

The State of Qatar emphasized the importance of the international community continuing to intensify its efforts to enhance cybersecurity and expand avenues of cooperation, particularly between developed and developing countries, in order to ensure the utilization and preservation of digital gains. Qatar stressed that cyberspace and its related uses provide vast opportunities for promoting economic development and achieving human well-being. This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani before the UN General Assembly's First Committee at its 80th session on Other Disarmament Measures and International Security, held at UN headquarters in New York. Sheikh Abdulrahman explained that progress in the digital and technological fields has offered smart and low-cost solutions to many development-related issues, while also enhancing social communication through modern and advanced networks. He noted that while such progress offers wide-ranging opportunities in various areas of technology, it also brings increasing cybersecurity risks, which now pose threats to all forms of digital activity — including attacks targeting vital telecommunications and digital infrastructure, resulting in serious material and moral damage, privacy violations, and obstacles to economic development efforts. He added that information security and cybersecurity have become major concerns for the international community — particularly for governments, public institutions, banks, financial bodies, and private sector entities. He pointed out that growing global awareness of these threats led to the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which Qatar signed during the official ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct. 25, 2025. He further added that, as part of its efforts to exchange expertise and knowledge in the field of information and communications technology at both regional and international levels, the State of Qatar has continued its active participation in the meetings of the Open-ended Working Group on the Security of Information and Communication Technology (2021-2025), whose work concluded in July 2025, pointing out that the State of Qatar welcomed the group's consensus-adopted final report, expressing hope that its recommendations would be implemented to strengthen cybersecurity and international cooperation in the safe use of ICTs - including the future permanent mechanism on ICT security in the context of international security. He also noted that, reaffirming the State of Qatar's commitment to promoting responsible behavior in cyberspace, the National Cyber Security Agency organized a side event titled "Qatar's Successful Experience in Implementing the UN Norms for Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace" on July 7, 2025, during the Eleventh Substantive Session of the Open-Ended Working Group. The event, he said, aimed to highlight Qatar's successful model in adopting UN cybersecurity standards through its achievements and implemented initiatives. The Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, referred to Qatar's participation in the Fourth Meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity, held on Sept. 8, 2025, in the sisterly State of Kuwait, during which the execution plan for the GCC Cybersecurity Strategy, as well as the framework for international cooperation among GCC member states in the field of cybersecurity were approved.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index rose to 10,873 points at the beginning of Monday's trading, up 0.31%, or 33.44 points, compared to the previous session's close, supported by gains in six sectors. According to figures released by the QSE, Transportation went up (+0.82%), Real Estate (+0.50%), Consumer Goods and Services (+0.46%), Banks and Financial Services (+0.23%), Industrials (+0.14%), and Telecoms (+0.09%). Meanwhile, Insurance went down (-0.08%). As of 10:00 am, trading volume totaled 36.888 million shares, with a turnover of QR 71.389 million across 3208 transactions.

European shares were flat on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight healthcare stocks offsetting the decline in the broader market, as investors fretted over a potential delay in the closely-watched US jobs data. The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), opened new tab held steady at 557.9 points, after posting its third successive monthly gain in September. Local bourses were mixed. Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, while the UK's FTSE 100 climbed 0.2% to an all-time high. Healthcare stocks jumped 2.7%, and Novartis gained 2.8%.