The European Union and India should resume talks for a free trade agreement, while the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen begins her visit to New Delhi on Thursday.
While Leyen will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, will hold talks with his counterpart, the EU commissioner for trade Maros Sefcovic. The talks will largely revolve around negotiations for a free trade agreement, with the exception of the EU-EU Commerce and Technology Council.
The talks will deepen the commitment “in particular in trade and investments, resilient supply chains, digital technologies, AI, semiconductors, green hydrogen, clean energy, sustainable urbanization, water management, defense and space”, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Reducing prices on cars and alcohol was the EU’s request, while India has negotiated concessions for its MPME.
The Indian delegation is also likely to raise concerns concerning the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism or the CBAM, as well as the region’s deforestation regulation as a commercial barrier. Various leaders, including Goyal and the Chief Economic Advisor against Nageswaran, have publicly declared that CBAM and EUDR are “commercial protection measures dressed in climate and environmental language”.
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