October 5, 2025

Hold tight! The next round of exciting free trade talks between India and the European Union (EU) is about to start on October 6 in Brussels. This is the 14th round of negotiations, stretching over five days, where senior officials will try to iron out their differences and fast-track a deal that can blossom soon. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently shared his optimism: "We hope the two sides will sign the agreement soon." This pact aims to supercharge trade and investment between the two powerhouse economies. The deadline is ticking! By December, both India and the EU want to seal the deal. Adding fuel to the fire, Goyal plans to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in South Africa later this month to check the deal's progress. Sefcovic and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen had already visited India last month for talks with Goyal. Here's the scoop: The India-EU free trade negotiations resumed in June 2022 after an eight-year pause. The talks stopped back in 2013 because of disagreement over market access and tariff cuts. Now, the EU wants hefty duty cuts on cars, medical devices, wine, spirits, meat, and poultry, along with a strong intellectual property framework. India pushes forward with goods like ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, steel, petroleum products, and electrical machinery—all set to get a sharper edge if the trade pact sails through. The scope of talks is vast, covering 23 policy areas—including trade in goods and services, investment, customs, competition, intellectual property rights, sustainable development, and more. Why is this huge? Because in 2024-25, India-EU trade in goods hit a whopping USD 136.53 billion, making the EU India's biggest trading partner for goods. Indian exports to the EU stand strong at USD 75.85 billion, while imports from the EU are USD 60.68 billion. The EU also holds 17% of India’s total export market. The trade in services between India and the EU adds another USD 51.45 billion to the mix in 2023. In short, the upcoming talks in Brussels are more than just meetings—they could unlock a powerhouse trade agreement that supercharges business and investments between India and the EU. Stay tuned, because this story is getting hotter!

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Tags: India-eu trade deal, Free trade agreement, Piyush goyal, Eu negotiations, Brussels talks, Trade pact 2024,