What is the story
India and the European Union (EU) have urged their officials to expedite outstanding issues and finalize a draft free trade agreement (FTA). The call was made during a meeting between Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Brussels. Goyal’s two-day visit ended on January 9.
Ministerial commitment follows high-level discussions
The ministerial engagement was preceded by strategic talks between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and the European Commission’s Director-General for Trade, Sabine Weyand, on January 6-7. These discussions aimed to “reduce differences” and clarify outstanding issues, thereby paving the way for ministerial dialogue. The Commerce Ministry said the two leaders guided their negotiating teams to resolve outstanding issues and accelerate the conclusion of the deal.
Negotiations cover various commercial aspects
The ministerial engagement focused on reviewing progress made on different negotiating tracks, including market access for goods, rules of origin and services. The Commerce Ministry said these discussions were crucial as both sides want to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible. The meetings reaffirmed the strong political will of both sides to resolve outstanding issues through constructive engagement.
About The Author
