Fine balance required on market access on both sides: India-EU FTA

17 Apr 2013 Evaluate

Moving a step closer to seal a deal that is expected to boost trade and investment, India and European Union (EU) have agreed that a fine balance needs to be arrived on market access on both the sides, an issue that is impeding the progress of India-EU free trade agreement. Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht concluded another round of talks on April 16 at Brussels and provided a renewed momentum to bring the negotiations forward.

The next ministerial meeting on the ongoing India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is scheduled for June. The proposed agreement is expected to give more opportunities for both sides to market access in both goods and services. India and EU two-way trade increased to about $110 billion in 2011 from $83.37 billion in 2010. India has already implemented comprehensive FTAs with other countries such as Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

With the proposed free trade agreement, the EU wants to gain more access to the Indian markets and want significant reduction in customs duty on cars, wines and spirits on their exports to India. On the other hand, India is looking at EU as important destinations for its information technology professionals, architects, engineers, teachers and chefs and seeking single visa for its professionals on short-term contractual visits to the European Union. 

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