India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has concluded his visit to Brussels, describing it as filled with “intense but very productive engagements” with Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on advancing a comprehensive India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).He said the talks have significantly reduced outstanding issues and created a framework that can deliver a win-win outcome for both economies. According to Goyal, the negotiations have laid the foundation for a robust and balanced agreement that will support businesses on both sides and expand the potential for mutual growth.He reiterated that both sides remain committed to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU President Ursula von der Leyen for shared prosperity through innovation, trade, investment, and job creation. Commending the negotiating teams for their efforts, he said he looks forward to welcoming Šefčovič and the EU team again soon to work toward concluding the dialogue.
The visit aimed to build on the momentum from the 14th round of negotiations held in Brussels from 6 to 10 October, where discussions covered key areas of the proposed FTA, including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. The two leaders reviewed progress achieved so far and identified areas where further convergence is needed.This engagement comes as India-EU relations gain renewed strategic depth following the Modi-von der Leyen meeting earlier this year, where the leaders underscored the need for a future-ready trade relationship that advances prosperity, sustainability, and innovation.India is seeking greater market access for labour-intensive exports, while the EU is keen to expand automobile and liquor exports to India. Government sources earlier noted that the EU’s recent approval of India’s fisheries exports will help offset losses from US tariffs and said talks remain on track for conclusion by year-end. Goyal had previously stated that over 65 percent of chapters were finalised during the 13th round of talks in New Delhi.In June 2025, government sources told CNBC-TV18 that FTA negotiation sessions had increased from quarterly to monthly. Both sides are also keeping open the option of an early harvest deal, similar to the India-Australia agreement, covering issues such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. India and the EU are pursuing a two-stage approach to finalise an FTA, along with a bilateral investment protection agreement and mutual recognition of geographical indications (GIs).Goyal’s Brussels visit pushes India-EU FTA talks forward, narrowing gaps and advancing a balanced trade pact focused on market access, innovation, investment, and shared economic growth.First Published: Oct 28, 2025 9:10 PM IST
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