High-level meetings between India, EU to be held this month to boost FTA talks

07 Aug 2023 Evaluate

With an aim to review the progress of talks on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), high-level meetings between India and the European Union (EU) will be held this month. The EU officials are coming for the G20 trade ministers meeting this month in Jaipur. There is a high-level meeting at the minister level on August 26 in the national capital between India and the EU. The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting, under India's G20 Presidency, is scheduled at Jaipur on August 24-25.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is also likely to meet EU Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand in Jaipur. These meetings would give an impetus to the ongoing negotiations between the two sides on the FTA. So far, five rounds of talks have been held on the agreement. India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations on June 17 last year after a gap of over eight years on the proposed agreements on trade, investments and Geographical Indications (GI).

India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007, but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits and the movement of professionals. India's merchandise exports to EU member countries have increased to $74.5 billion in 2022-23 from about $65 billion in 2021-22. Imports also rose to $60 billion in 2022-23 from $51.4 billion in 2021-22. The EU accounts for about 17 per cent of India's total exports and about 8.5 per cent of the country's total imports.

A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. Besides greater market access for its products like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, the Indian industry is looking for easy access for skilled professionals in the EU markets. 

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