Commerce Secretary: India–EU Trade Agreement Talks in Final Stages

Negotiations between India and the European Union on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are “progressing very well” and have entered their final stage, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The two sides recently concluded their 14th round of talks in Brussels, with Indian officials remaining to finalise discussions on Rules of Origin (ROO). Agrawal noted that while the final phase of negotiations is often the most challenging, the latest round saw very positive progress, raising optimism for a successful conclusion.

The India–EU trade pact negotiations span 23 policy areas, covering a broad range of issues such as trade in goods and services, investment, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, and competition. The discussions also include chapters on trade defence, government procurement, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights, geographical indications, and sustainable development.