Speaking at the weekly press conference on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains actively engaged with the US and the EU to achieve fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade deals.
He said discussions were ongoing and both sides were committed to bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
Trade talks between India and the United States gain momentum
On the bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States, Jaiswal said officials from both governments continue to hold regular discussions.
His remarks came soon after a US delegation, led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer, visited India from December 9-11.
This was Ambassador Switzer’s first visit to India in his new role. During the trip, he met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and other senior officials.
The meetings focused on outstanding trade issues and exploring ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. India and the United States have worked to iron out differences over tariffs, market access and regulatory concerns.
Officials from both sides view the trade deal as an important step toward boosting bilateral trade and investment, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, technology and services.
Progress in India-EU Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
Jaiswal also took stock of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, saying the negotiations were progressing steadily. The 14th round of FTA negotiations was held in Brussels in October, after which EU officials visited India to continue discussions. The EU Trade Commissioner also visited India in December to discuss unresolved issues.
“Both sides remain engaged and we will see how we can move this conversation forward,” Jaiswal said, indicating that the dialogue is active and constructive.
Earlier, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had said that India and the EU were narrowing their differences after several rounds of negotiations. He said physical and virtual meetings continued, with deep engagement on multiple issues such as goods, services, investments and sustainability standards.
New Zealand FTA sets the tone
India’s recent conclusion of a free trade agreement with New Zealand has provided impetus to its broader trade strategy. The deal is one of the fastest FTAs India has finalized and is seen as a model for future deals.
The India-New Zealand FTA improves market access and tariff benefits for Indian exporters and also opens doors to wider markets in Oceania and the Pacific Islands.
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