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by IANS |
India and the European Union (EU) have reiterated their commitment to the early conclusion of negotiations for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.In a post on X, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, “Delighted to host my friend Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, along with the EU delegation for dinner. As the India-EU FTA negotiations continue, we reiterated our shared commitment towards its early conclusion. A balanced and mutually beneficial FTA will unlock new opportunities for people and businesses on both sides.”
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen are on a two-day visit to India to review progress and accelerate discussions. The EU Embassy in India noted that the visit is intended to “take stock and power up India-EU business ties” and engage with key stakeholders.India has consistently stressed that meaningful progress requires addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff reductions and ensuring that regulatory frameworks remain inclusive and trade-friendly.
The FTA negotiations are part of India’s broader trade strategy, which in recent years has seen the signing of major agreements, including the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) in 2021, the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022, and the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in 2024. India also signed the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025, which is expected to come into force soon.
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