India and the European Union (EU) are set to commence the 14th round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in Brussels starting October 6, officials confirmed. The discussions are expected to continue over five days, after which India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic will review progress in South Africa on the sidelines of the G20 trade commissioners’ summit.
Both sides are targeting to conclude the trade pact before the end of this year. The ongoing negotiations cover 23 chapters, with critical areas such as market access and rules of origin still unresolved, making them key topics for this upcoming round.
Ahead of the talks, EU Ambassador Herve Delphin emphasized the importance of the FTA amid global economic uncertainties. He noted that while some nations are imposing tariffs or restricting market access, the agreement can help diversify trade, strengthen supply chains, and mitigate potential risks. Delphin also highlighted that India and the EU are the second and fourth largest global economies, providing significant opportunities to expand bilateral trade.
The 13th round of negotiations, held in New Delhi between September 8 and 12, failed to achieve major breakthroughs in sensitive sectors like agriculture and automobiles, where the EU seeks expanded market access. India, on the other hand, is advocating for exemptions in the EU’s upcoming carbon tax on steel, aluminium, cement, and fertilisers starting January. Additionally, New Delhi is pushing for duty-free access for its labour-intensive products and emerging sectors such as automotive and electronics.
The EU represents approximately 17% of India’s total exports, while India accounts for 9% of EU’s overall overseas shipments. In 2024-25, bilateral trade in goods reached $136.53 billion, with India exporting goods worth $75.85 billion and importing $60.68 billion, making the EU India’s largest trading partner. Trade in services between the two regions was valued at $51.45 billion in 2023.
India-EU Free Trade Talks Resume in Brussels
Deepika chandrasekar
Deepika is on her way to becoming an influential figure in the world as a young writer with a big voice and a big heart. Deepika has always possessed the highly sought-after attribute of empathy. She attended the University of Madras and graduated with a BA and MA in English. She has her mother and daughter living with her in Chennai, while she is a single parent.
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