The next series of talks for the proposed free trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) began on Monday, reported the news agency reported Pti.
The current series of talks – the 13th – is important because there is a deadline to conclude the Ale talks by the end of this year.
After the 13th round of talks, the European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic should visit India on September 12 to take stock of the progress of negotiations with union trade and the Minister of Industry Piyush Goyal, the Pti According to the report.
In June 2022, India and the EU resumed the 12th round of talks after a gap of more than eight years for a complete free trade pact, an investment protection agreement and a pact on geographic indications.
The 12th round of talks ended in Brussels.
The trade agreement assumes importance in the middle of the turbulence created by the pricing policies of the American administration led by President Donald Trump. It is also significant because it follows the announcement of the EU-US agreement. The EU has indicated flexibility for the United States on the controversial carbon border adjustment mechanism
ALE negotiations were interrupted in 2013 due to differences on the market opening level.
On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had agreed to seal a highly anticipated free trade agreement by the end of this year.
In addition to requiring significant rights reductions in cars and medical devices, the EU wishes a tax reduction in products such as wine, spirits, meat, poultry and an intellectual property regime.
If the commercial pact is successfully concluded, exports from Indian products to the EU, such as ready -to -use clothing, pharmaceutical products, steel, petroleum products and electric machines, can become more competitive.
In 2024-25, bilateral trade in India with the EU amounted to $ 136.53 billion, with exports with a value of $ 75.85 billion and imports to $ 60.68 billion.
The EU market represents approximately 17% of the total exports of India, while EU exports to India represent 9% of its total shipments abroad.
The bilateral trade in services, in 2023, between India and the EU was estimated at $ 51.45 billion.
India has, over the past 5 years, inked several trade deals, included the india-mauritius understanding Economic cooperation and partyShip Agrement (CECPA) implemeted in 2021, the India-Uae comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) In 2022, The India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in 2024, and the India-Uk Economy and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2025, which has not yet entered into force.
India-Qatar fta talks
The talks between India and Qatar have entered an advanced phase with both parties should conclude the mandate of an ALE proposed at the beginning of next month, said a reported news agency Ani Quoting sources.
Piyush Goyal could go to Qatar in the first week of October to advance these discussions, reported Ani.
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