India–EU Negotiators Resume Talks on Free Trade Agreement as Deadline Nears

Negotiators from India and the European Union (EU) have resumed discussions to address outstanding issues in the long-awaited India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as the deadline for concluding the negotiations draws closer, the Commerce Ministry announced.

A team of negotiators from the European Union was in New Delhi from November 3–7 for the latest round of talks with their Indian counterparts. The deliberations focused on core areas such as trade in goods, trade in services, and rules of origin, as well as technical and institutional matters, the ministry said in a statement.

“The engagements aim to resolve key outstanding issues and advance the agreement toward a balanced and equitable framework that benefits both sides,” the statement added.

The EU has sought significant duty cuts on automobiles and medical devices, along with tax reductions on products such as wine, spirits, meat, and poultry. Brussels has also pushed for a stronger intellectual property (IP) regime as part of the proposed deal.

The FTA, once concluded, is expected to boost bilateral trade and investment flows between India and the EU, one of India’s largest trading partners, while also strengthening the two regions’ economic and strategic partnership.