EU and India Kick-start Ambitious Trade Agenda

Last week, the European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Indian Commerce Minister Piush Goyal formally relaunched EU-India negotiations on a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade agreement.

This also entailed the initiation of EU-India negotiations on an investment protection agreement and on an agreement on geographical indications. The EU and India share similar values in protecting their geographical indications. The Geographical Indications Agreement, once concluded, will support rural communities and help preserve the cultural and culinary heritage of both sides. It will also assure simplified access to the quality products for consumers on both sides and promote the geographical indications globally.

A first round of negotiations will be hosted by India in New Delhi from 27 June to 1 July 2022. The two sides agreed to fast-track the talks with the aim of concluding them by the end of 2023.