Negotiators from the European Union have already arrived in New Delhi to resume the 13th round of FTA discussions with India. Talks are expected to be pivotal in concluding the long-pending FTA by the end of the year. European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, will visit Delhi starting September 11 – 12 to advance talks. The EU plans to present a new strategic agenda with India.
The 13th round of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations kicked off in New Delhi this week, aiming for a comprehensive deal by year-end covering goods, services, investment, digital trade, and sustainable development. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised India’s intent to drive the talks toward a “decisive conclusion” soon, signalling strong political will.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will visit India from September 12, reinforcing progress in talks that resumed in 2021 after an eight-year pause. He’ll meet with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The EU plans to unveil a new strategic agenda with India on September 17, reinforcing trade, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and counterterrorism ties.
Discussions now focus on resolving contentious issues like non-tariff barriers, market access, and public procurement. Sectors like dairy, sugar, and rice are likely excluded, while automobiles and spirits remain sticking points. Out of 23 policy chapters, about 11 have seen agreement, including intellectual property, digital trade, customs, and anti-fraud mechanisms.
The escalation of US tariffs up to 50% on Indian goods has accelerated India’s urgency to finalise trade pacts with the EU, Oman, Chile, Peru, and Qatar. A prior EU-US agreement underscores the importance of securing a similar one with India.
India is set to finalise the terms of reference (ToR) for an FTA with Qatar by early October. Commerce Minister Goyal will be travelling to Doha to initiate formal negotiations. Qatar pledged to double bilateral trade to $20 billion in five years, with $10 billion in investment committed to India.
Commerce Ministry officials have said that they have fast-tracked EU trade negotiations by holding monthly talks with the 27-member bloc. In the last 12 months, India and the EU have conducted four rounds of negotiations. Delhi aims to finalise a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU by year-end, while simultaneously engaging in trade negotiations with the US.
