A high-level European Union delegation led by Director-General for Trade Sabine Weyand will hold crucial negotiations with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi today, December 8, 2025, in a final push to conclude the long-pending Free Trade Agreement before the year-end target. The meeting is seen as one of the most decisive rounds since talks resumed in June 2022 after a nine-year hiatus.
The discussions will cover the remaining chapters of the comprehensive pact, which spans 23 policy areas including trade in goods and services, investment protection, intellectual property rights, geographical indications, government procurement, and sustainable development commitments. Both sides have already closed or provisionally settled nearly half the chapters in previous rounds, but several sensitive issues still require political-level resolution.
Key outstanding points include the EU’s demand for substantial tariff cuts on automobiles, dairy products, wines and spirits, alongside stricter carbon border measures and data adequacy requirements. India continues to press for greater market access for its textiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, and skilled professionals, while seeking balanced protection for domestic industry and reciprocal recognition of its geographical indications.
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With bilateral merchandise trade reaching $136.53 billion in 2024-25, making the EU India’s largest trading partner, successful conclusion of the FTA is expected to significantly boost exports, attract sustained European investment, and strengthen cooperation in green technology, digital services, and resilient supply chains.
The outcome of today’s meeting will be closely watched by industry and policymakers alike, as a breakthrough would mark a historic milestone in India-EU economic relations and set the stage for one of the most ambitious trade agreements either side has signed in recent decades.
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