India and the European Union are set to hold the 14th round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement in Brussels from October 6 to 10. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal affirmed that both sides are committed to forging a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement in the near future.
While acknowledging that not all issues may see immediate consensus, Goyal expressed confidence in reaching a “very good agreement” through the ongoing discussions. Intense negotiations between Indian and EU teams have been underway to address key trade and investment matters, with the 13th round having been conducted from September 8 to 12 in India. During that round, EU officials including Maroš Šefčovič and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen met with Goyal to review progress and address outstanding issues.
A key focus for the EU in these talks is obtaining duty concessions in India’s automotive sector. Currently, India imposes duties exceeding 100% on automotive imports. The EU has highlighted that under recent trade agreements, similar concessions were extended to UK firms, indicating potential for alignment in the future.
Beyond trade tariffs, the European Commission emphasized that the EU-India partnership extends to high-value-added investments capable of generating thousands, even millions, of jobs in India. Several European automotive companies, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, have already established manufacturing units within the country, reflecting growing industrial cooperation.
The 14th round of talks in Brussels represents a continuation of efforts to strengthen economic ties, reduce trade barriers, and encourage mutual investment. Both India and the EU aim to create a trade framework that benefits industries, consumers, and the workforce in both regions, while also fostering deeper strategic collaboration.
