The German ambassador highlights the commitment of India-EU to negotiate the ALE by the end of the year, highlighting the importance of global free trade cooperation. | Photo credit: Microstockhub
The German ambassador to India and Bhutan, Philipp Ackermann, said that India and the European Union would strive to negotiate a free trade agreement (ALE) by the end of this year.
Speaking during the 9th Global Tech Summit Carnegie on Saturday during the “renowned panel: Sambhavna: then, what is the growing strength of Europe-India relations. According to Ackermann, “Europe has shown a fairly remarkable moment of force. And I would say that the visit of the chairman of the commission and 21 commissions in Delhi five weeks ago was one of these remarkable events. They turned their attention to India, I think that this has never seen such a visit before any other country.”
“I think there is a dedication, a commitment to the ALE between India and Europe,” he added. Ackermann highlighted the importance of cooperation between nations with similar views in support of the world and free trade, declaring that “we must not forget that it is once now, where those who believe in World and Free Trade, should join the hands. This is the moment when, we have to sit together and try to understand what is possible at the time of an Ale,” he added. Stressing the commitment to an ALE between the two countries, he said: “Prime Minister Modi and the President of the Commission agreed with a free trade agreement negotiated by the end of this year.”
Ackermann has highlighted the sensible and calm approach of Europe in times of uncertainty, citing its reaction to recent developments in the United States as an example of its strength and resolution. “Another thing where I think Europe has shown a force is when we saw the ups and downs in the United States, the commission reacted very sensitive, calm but resolved.
Tanvi Madan, principal researcher at the Brookings Institution, shared his reflections on the foreign policy and the trade agreements of India. According to Madan, India must do more business with the world, in particular with developed countries, but certain sectors have become too used to the domestic market. Staying that Jaishankar and the Minister of Commerce, the Minister of External Affairs, comments from the Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, said: “You heard this from EAM and the Minister of Commerce yesterday. Goyal said we have to trade but also an investment. India must do more business with the world, but that we want to do business with private partners in the developed world.
“Madan underlines it”, structurally, India and China are still rival. For each meeting, you see that the competitive instincts between the two countries. So yes, you will see more steps. In some areas, you will see a selective economic commitment, “she said.
Madan rejects the concerns that the improvement of Indian-Chinese relations would lead to the abandonment of initiatives like the Quad. “I do not see a massive change in India-China. The thing of people were worried-if China and India would get along, it would mean that India would stop doing things like Quad,” she noted. .
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Posted on April 13, 2025
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