NEW DELHI: A team of senior negotiators from European Union (EU) visited here, from November 3 to 7, 2025 for negotiations with Indian counterparts on the project India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The week-long discussions were part of ongoing efforts to advance negotiations towards a comprehensive, balanced and mutually beneficial trade deal. The deliberations covered a wide range of chapters, including goods, services, investment, trade, sustainable development, rules of origin and technical barriers to trade.
As part of the negotiations, Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal held detailed meetings with Director-General for Trade, European Commission, Ms Sabine Weyand, take stock of the progress made on all avenues of negotiation. The two-day stocktaking meetings, held on November 5-6, 2025 in New Delhi, reviewed key outstanding issues in the India-EU FTA negotiations. Both sides agreed to further accelerate efforts to reach a balanced trade deal.
The Commerce Secretary reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving an outcome that promotes economic growth and development while ensuring fair and balanced distribution of benefits. He also highlighted the need for clarity and predictability in the implementation of new EU regulatory measures, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the proposed new steel regulations.
Both parties noted with satisfaction the substantial progress made in several areas of negotiation and agreed to maintain this positive dynamic. The discussions helped narrow differences and reach common agreement on many issues. The importance of continued engagement at the technical level in the coming weeks was highlighted to fill remaining gaps and work towards the common goal of concluding the India-EU FTA negotiations at the earliest.
The negotiations and stocktaking meetings reflected the strong commitment of both sides to deepen the India-EU partnership and finalize an ambitious and forward-looking agreement that promotes resilient, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
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