EU FTA: Indian Team To Arrive In Brussels To Fast-Track Trade Talks

An Indian delegation is expected to arrive in Brussels later on Wednesday, as India and the European Union look to expedite talks and close the first tranche of the India-EU free trade agreement by the end of this year.

The Indian team, led by Special Secretary and Chief Negotiator L Satya Srinivas, is visiting Brussels almost directly after the 11th round of talks were completed in New Delhi between May 12-16. This visit also comes in quick succession of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's three-nation Europe tour, where he met his counterpart European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič.

The India-EU FTA remains on track for the year-end deadline, set by both Goyal and Šefčovič, and is likely to be done in two tranches, similar to what is being envisioned for the US or what was done with Australia.

The talks are expected to see equal focus given to tariffs and non-tariff measures in talks, as well as expand market access meaningfully for companies in both regions.

Further, batteries, pharma, chips and clean hydrogen will be among areas of focus with the EU, with a future security and defence partnership also on the cards.