India-EU FTA: Talks gain momentum; Brussels delegation to finalise tariff issues in New Delhi

The negotiating teams of India and the European Union are making significant progress on tariff-related issues, with an EU delegation set to visit New Delhi next week to further narrow gaps for an early conclusion of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA).Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal recently held discussions in Brussels with EU commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic to give new momentum to the negotiations. The visit follows the 14th round of FTA talks held from October 6–10.Sefcovic said that European Commission director general for trade Sabine Weyand would travel to New Delhi next week “with a view to concluding the technical tariff negotiations.” He noted, “I very much appreciate that we engage in full transparency and trust… we’ve been able to progress substantially across a number of areas. On industrial tariffs, we have given concrete guidance to our team.”According to news agency PTI, Sefcovic added that both sides have also advanced on measures to facilitate trade and investment beyond tariffs. Goyal stated that the three-day talks in Brussels “have significantly reduced the outstanding issues,” expressing optimism about reaching a “robust and balanced agreement” that would “support businesses in Europe and in India.”“I believe the ongoing India-EU FTA negotiations have given us an opportunity to really create the framework which will help us, in the long run, bring our two economies closer together… a win-win for the European Union and for India,” Goyal said.Engagements between the two sides have intensified as both aim to conclude negotiations by December. Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal has also held talks with EU trade director general Sabine Weyand in Brussels,.India and the EU had resumed FTA negotiations in June 2022 after an eight-year gap, covering 23 policy areas including goods, services, investment, rules of origin, customs, government procurement, and intellectual property rights.Biilateral trade in goods between India and the EU stood at $136.53 billion in 2024–25, making the bloc India’s largest trading partner. The EU accounts for around 17 per cent of India’s total exports.