India and the 27-member European Union (EU) bloc are expected to begin their 14th round of negotiations on a draft free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday (October 6) in Brussels, an official told PTI.
This round of talks, scheduled to last five days, from October 6 to 10, 2025, will see the two sides “ironing out” their differences on issues with a view to an “early conclusion” of the negotiations, the official added.
The envisaged agreement aims to boost bilateral trade and investment between India and the EU, covering 23 policy areas and involving significant reductions in customs duties and taxes.
Piyush Goyal hopes for deal ‘soon’
The report added that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal expressed hope that the two sides would reach an agreement and a trade deal between India and the EU would be signed soon.
Goyal is expected to meet European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in South Africa later in October. The two men should “review the progress of the negotiations” before the December deadline to conclude the negotiations, he added.
What does the FTA include? What are the advantages?
Negotiations on the India-EU trade deal cover 23 policy areas or chapters, including competition, customs and trade facilitation, dispute resolution, geographical indications, government procurement, investments, intellectual property rights, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, sustainable development, technical barriers to trade, defense trade, trade in goods, measures trade remedies and trade in services.
In FY25, India’s bilateral merchandise trade with the EU stood at $136.53 billion, including $75.85 billion in exports and $60.68 billion in imports. This made it the largest trading partner for goods.
The EU market accounts for around 17 percent of India’s total exports, and its exports to India constitute 9 percent of its total overseas shipments. Furthermore, in 2023, bilateral trade in services between India and the EU was estimated at $51.45 billion.
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