The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, held discussions with Maroš Šefčovič, the European Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, from December 8 to 9, during which both sides agreed to expedite talks on the free trade agreement and conclude it at the earliest.
The Ministerial-level discussions reaffirmed the strong political resolve on either side to address pending issues through constructive engagement and to work towards a comprehensive, mutually advantageous outcome, the commerce ministry said in a statement on December 9.
During their discussions, Goyal and Šefčovič carried out detailed deliberations across key areas of the proposed agreement. Both sides took note of the steady progress achieved across various negotiating tracks and agreed on the need to sustain the current momentum through continued exchanges, the statement added.
Both sides emphasised the strategic importance of concluding a fair, balanced, and ambitious agreement that aligns with their shared values, economic priorities, and commitment to a rules-based trading framework.
The visit takes place against the backdrop of the technical discussions held from December in New Delhi across key chapters of India-EU FTA covering Market Access for Goods, Rules of Origin, Services, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade and Sustainable Development, among others.
The visit of the European Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security was preceded by high-level discussions between Commerce Secretary and Director-General Trade, European Commission in New Delhi on December 7.
“Anchored in the shared principles of prosperity, sustainability, and innovation, the visit concluded with both parties’ expressing confidence and a renewed determination to intensify efforts toward the early conclusion of a modern, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement,” the statement said.
The commerce ministry had earlier said that 10 of the 20–plus chapters under negotiation have been officially closed, and another four or five chapters have been “largely decided,” leaving sensitive areas such as automobiles, steel, and regulatory barriers to be resolved.
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