--- title: "India and Mercosur sign protocol for electronic Certificates of Origin" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin" category: "Business & Economy" area: "India" published: "2026-09-14T14:46:20.646Z" source_reported: "2026-09-14T14:09:37.252Z" updated: "2026-09-14T14:46:20.646Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 70 hype_score: 10 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-14T15:41:06.651Z" --- # India and Mercosur sign protocol for electronic Certificates of Origin *New agreement aims to facilitate paperless trade and modernise customs procedures.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 9 digests corroborate the core claims, with specific details on PTA and signatories. - Craft 70 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and factual, with government statements providing the basis for the articles. - Hype 10 of 100, lower is better. The language used is neutral and descriptive, with no sensationalism or exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - India and the Mercosur bloc have signed the first additional protocol to their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). - The protocol facilitates the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin, giving them the same legal validity as paper documents. - This agreement aims to promote paperless trade and modernise customs procedures between India and the Mercosur countries. - The protocol was signed by India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and ambassadors from Uruguay and Paraguay. India and the Mercosur bloc have signed the first additional protocol to their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The agreement allows for the acceptance of Certificates of Origin in electronic format, which will have the same legal validity as paper certificates. This initiative is intended to facilitate paperless trade and modernise customs procedures between the two sides. The India-Mercosur PTA, which came into effect on June 1, 2009, provides preferential tariff concessions. India offers these concessions on 450 tariff lines, while Mercosur offers them on 452 tariff lines. The protocol was signed by India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and the ambassadors of Uruguay and Paraguay to India. ## Coverage comparison The New Indian Express and Times of India, the only outlets to provide full reports, stated that the agreement aims to facilitate paperless trade and modernise customs procedures. Both reports noted that electronic certificates will have the same legal validity as paper ones and detailed the number of tariff lines covered by the preferential trade agreement. They also named the signatories: Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and the ambassadors of Uruguay and Paraguay. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific number of tariff lines that benefit from preferential trade concessions under the India-Mercosur PTA. The left-rated report and the centre-rated digest also do not specify this detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (1) - Centre: 12% (1) - Right: 75% (6) 4 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-14T15:41:06.651Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-14T17:15:17.325Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The New Indian Express, the sole left-rated report, led with the signing of the pact to accept electronic Certificates of Origin. It highlighted the move as an important step towards paperless trade and modernising customs procedures. The report detailed the number of tariff lines benefiting from preferential trade and named the signatories. ### Centre - Devdiscourse, the centre-rated digest, focused on India and Mercosur embracing a digital trade revolution. It stated the protocol allows for electronic Certificates of Origin to streamline customs operations and promote paperless trade documentation, enhancing efficiency and reducing transaction costs. ### Right - The six right-rated reports all focused on the signing of the additional protocol to facilitate electronic Certificates of Origin. They stated the agreement establishes a framework to streamline customs operations and implement paperless documentation. Digests from Latestly, Tribune India, and aninews.in specifically mentioned the protocol establishing this framework. Moneycontrol noted the protocol gives electronic certificates the same legal validity as paper ones, potentially reducing paperwork, processing time, and transaction costs. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 6 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/business/3976964-india-and-mercosur-embrace-digital-trade-revolution) — India and MERCOSUR Embrace Digital Trade Revolution - [Ommcom News](https://ommcomnews.com/india-news/india-mercosur-sign-protocol-to-allow-electronic-certificates-of-origin-for-trade) — India, MERCOSUR Sign Protocol To Allow Electronic Certificates Of Origin For Trade - [bhaskarlive.in](https://bhaskarlive.in/others/india-mercosur-sign-protocol-to-allow-electronic-certificates-of-origin-for-trade-2140990) — India, MERCOSUR sign protocol to allow electronic certificates of origin for trade - [opengovasia.com](https://opengovasia.com/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-trade-certificates) — India and Mercosur Sign Protocol for Electronic Trade Certificates - OpenGov Asia - [The Hindu Business Line](https://thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-mercosur-ink-first-additional-protocol-to-facilitate-electronic-certificates-of-origin/article71466019.ece) — India, MERCOSUR ink first additional protocol to facilitate electronic certificates of origin - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/business-news-india-mercosur-ink-first-additional-protocol-to-facilitate-electronic-certificates-of-origin-7604197.html) — India, MERCOSUR Ink First Additional Protocol to Facilitate Electronic Certificates of Origin - [The New Indian Express](https://newindianexpress.com/business/2026/Sep/14/india-brazil-led-bloc-mercosur-ink-pact-to-accept-electronic-certificates-of-origin-2) — India, Brazil-led bloc Mercosur ink pact to accept electronic Certificates of Origin - [Tribune India](https://tribuneindia.com/news/business/india-mercosur-ink-first-additional-protocol-to-facilitate-electronic-certificates-of-origin) — India, MERCOSUR ink first additional protocol to facilitate electronic certificates of origin - The Tribune - [aninews.in](https://aninews.in/news/business/india-mercosur-ink-first-additional-protocol-to-facilitate-electronic-certificates-of-origin20260914173458) — India, MERCOSUR ink first additional protocol to facilitate electronic certificates of origin - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-brazil-led-bloc-mercosur-ink-pact-to-accept-electronic-certificates-of-origin/articleshow/134240654.cms) — India, Brazil-led bloc Mercosur ink pact to accept electronic Certificates of Origin - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-brazil-led-bloc-mercosur-ink-pact-to-accept-electronic-certificates-of-origin/articleshow/134240654.cms) — India, Brazil-led bloc Mercosur ink pact to accept electronic Certificates of Origin - [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/news/india/india-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-paperless-trade-electronic-certificates-14029565.html) — India, MERCOSUR sign protocol for paperless trade, electronic certificates ## Questions **What is the India-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement?** The India-Mercosur PTA came into effect on June 1, 2009. It provides preferential tariff concessions on hundreds of tariff lines, meaning reduced import duties on specific goods traded between India and the Mercosur bloc. **What is the purpose of the new protocol?** The new protocol facilitates the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin, which are required to claim duty concessions under the trade pact. This aims to streamline customs operations, promote paperless trade, and modernise procedures. **What is Mercosur?** Mercosur is a trade bloc in South America. Its current member countries include Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay. India has a preferential trade agreement with this bloc. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "India and Mercosur sign protocol for electronic Certificates of Origin", https://mediabias.news/business/india-and-mercosur-sign-protocol-for-electronic-certificates-of-origin