Commerce and Industry Minister Meets with European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Discusses India-EU FTA
Issue: To hold productive and meaningful engagements on outstanding issues related to the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, reaffirming commitment to concluding a balanced trade agreement.
Facts:
- Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal visited Brussels from October 26-28, 2025.
- He met with Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to conclude the India-EU FTA by the end of 2025.
- The mandate for this renewed push came from the direction set by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the European Commission.
Decision:
Both parties reaffirmed the shared commitment to conclude the India-EU FTA by the end of 2025. They agreed to intensify work on outstanding issues, particularly non-sensitive industrial tariff lines.
Key TakeDowns:
- Commitment to Deadline: The core outcome is the reaffirmation of the goal to finalize the mutually beneficial, balanced, and equitable trade agreement by the end of the calendar year 2025.
- Outstanding Issues: Discussions focused on Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and new EU regulations. Issues related to Steel, Auto, CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), and other EU regulations still require further discussion due to their high sensitivities.
- India’s Priorities: India emphasized the need for preferential treatment for its key asks, particularly those concerning labour-intensive sectors.
- Next Step: The EU technical team, led by the Director General for Trade, is scheduled to visit India next week to advance the ongoing discussions and work toward a constructive conclusion based on potential solutions identified during the meeting.
Source :- PIB2183603