India, EU conclude another round of FTA talks; to reach deal in two phases

19 May 2025 Evaluate

India and the European Union (EU) chief negotiators have concluded another round of talks on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to reach a deal in two phases. The 11th round of talks concluded on May 16, 2025. The two sides have agreed to conclude the agreement in two phases on account of the uncertain global trade environment, particularly due to the US tariff actions under President Donald Trump. The talks focused on areas like market access offers in goods, services, and investment. India has followed the practice of negotiating trade pacts in two phases with Australia. It is following a similar approach to the US.

On May 1, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was in Brussels to discuss progress on the agreement. In June 2022, India and the 27-nation EU bloc resumed negotiations after a gap of over eight years. It stalled in 2013 due to differences over the level of opening up of the markets. On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Commission President agreed to seal a much-awaited free trade deal by the end of this year.

The India-EU trade pact negotiations cover 23 policy areas or chapters, including Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade Remedies, Rules of Origin, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Competition, Trade Defence, Government Procurement, Dispute Settlement, Intellectual Property Rights, Geographical Indications, and Sustainable Development.

India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU was $137.41 billion in 2023-24 (exports worth $75.92 billion and imports worth $61.48 billion), making it the largest trading partner for goods. The EU market accounts for about 17 per cent of India's total exports, while EU's exports to India make up 9 per cent of its total overseas shipments. In addition, the bilateral trade in services, in 2023, between India and the EU was estimated at $51.45 billion.


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