New Delhi: India and the European Union (EU) concluded a fresh round of negotiations on the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi on Friday, reaffirming their shared commitment to a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade deal.
A senior EU delegation visited New Delhi from 3rd to 7th November 2025 for the week-long discussions, which covered a broad range of chapters including trade in goods and services, investment, sustainable development, rules of origin, and technical barriers to trade.
As part of the negotiations, Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal held detailed discussions with Ms. Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission, during a two-day stocktake meeting held on 5th and 6th November. The talks reviewed the progress achieved across multiple negotiating tracks and addressed key outstanding issues.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the substantive progress made in several areas and agreed to accelerate efforts towards finalizing the agreement. The discussions helped narrow divergences and establish a common understanding on several contentious points, while recognizing the need for continued engagement to bridge the remaining gaps.
Commerce Secretary Agrawal reiterated India’s commitment to achieving an outcome that supports economic growth, development, and equitable benefit-sharing. He also underscored the importance of clarity and predictability in the EU’s emerging regulatory frameworks, particularly the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the proposed new steel regulation, which have implications for Indian exports.
The EU delegation acknowledged India’s concerns and highlighted the shared objective of fostering sustainable and inclusive trade relations that align with both partners’ economic priorities and environmental goals.
Officials on both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining technical-level discussions in the coming weeks to build on the current momentum and move towards the early conclusion of the long-pending trade pact.
The India–EU FTA, once finalized, is expected to significantly deepen the bilateral economic partnership, enhance market access, and strengthen the foundation for resilient and sustainable growth across both regions.
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