India-EU 9th Round of FTA Talks

As India and the European Union (EU) gear up for the ninth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin has emphasised that the discussions will require a "strategic and political drive" as they are expected to become more challenging. “Eight rounds of talks have been held on the FTA and there is an understanding that both sides are committed to advance the negotiations with a ninth round already planned,” he said.

An official report from the EU on the eighth round of talks last month stated: “Some progress was made on Intellectual Property Rights, Rules of Origin, and Dispute Settlement, but both sides’ respective positions still diverge on the vast majority of key outstanding issues.” The ninth round is set to be held in New Delhi during September 23-27.