Piyush Goyal and EU trade chief push India-EU FTA towards speedy, balanced conclusion

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held intensive discussions with HE Maroš Šefčovič, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 8-9 December 2025 to provide strategic direction to the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The meeting reflected the firm political will of both parties to conclude a fair, balanced and ambitious trade agreement as soon as possible.

Talks follow a week of technical negotiations on key chapters of the FTA

This high-level engagement took place immediately after a series of technical discussions held in New Delhi from December 3-9, 2025, covering the main pillars of the FTA such as:

• Market access for goods

• Rules of origin

• Services

• Technical Barriers to Trade (OTC)

• Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD)

• Cooperation and regulatory standards

These discussions were preceded by important interactions on December 7, 2025 between India’s Commerce Secretary and the European Commission’s Director-General for Trade, signaling strong momentum and a shared determination to move the negotiations forward.

Goyal and Šefčovič review progress and set direction for next steps

During their detailed engagement, Minister Piyush Goyal and Commissioner Šefčovič:

• Review of progress made so far on several negotiating tracks

• Identified areas requiring further discussion

• Reaffirmed political will to resolve outstanding issues through constructive dialogue

• Stressed the importance of maintaining the current pace of negotiations

Both parties recognized the need to maintain sustained exchanges between negotiators to move towards a rapid conclusion.

Shared commitment to a balanced, modern and future-ready FTA

India and the EU reiterated that the FTA must:

• Be fair, balanced and mutually beneficial

• Reflect shared values ​​and principles of rules-based commerce

• Supporting innovation, sustainability and resilient supply chains

• Promoting forward-looking economic cooperation

• Improving opportunities for businesses, investors and consumers on both sides

The discussions reinforced that a strong trade partnership between India and the EU is vital for global economic stability at a time of geopolitical shifts and emerging supply chain challenges.

A landmark moment in economic relations between India and the EU

Commissioner Šefčovič’s visit marked a key milestone in the evolution of the trade architecture between India and the EU, highlighting:

• India’s growing role as a reliable and trusted partner for Europe

• The EU’s commitment to diversifying its economic ties with high-growth partners

• Strong alignment in areas such as sustainability, digital commerce, green technologies and resilient value chains

Both parties expressed confidence that the renewed diplomatic and technical dynamic would pave the way for the rapid conclusion of a modern and comprehensive FTA.

A new phase in the India-EU strategic trade partnership

Anchored in shared principles of prosperity, sustainability and innovation, the discussions concluded with a reaffirmation of the political will of both parties. India and the EU now enter the next phase of negotiations with renewed determination, clearer direction and a strengthened commitment to concluding a mutually beneficial agreement that can serve as a pillar of future economic cooperation.