EU Team Opens Two-Day India Talks on FTA, Goyal Meeting Monday

The visit signals an intensified, continuous negotiating phase under a year-end goal to resolve remaining market-access disputes.

Overview

EU and Indian negotiators convene in New Delhi for two days starting Monday, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal set to meet the visiting team on day one.
The European delegation is led by Sabine Weyand of the Directorate‑General for Trade, with roughly 40 negotiators deployed and a stated aim to close talks by year‑end.
Key sticking points include steel, the EU’s carbon tax, tariffs on automobiles, and other non‑tariff barriers cited by officials.
The EU is seeking tariff cuts on automobiles, medical devices, wine and spirits and stronger intellectual property rules, while India wants safeguards for domestic industry and limits on non‑tariff barriers.
Separate India–US trade discussions begin in New Delhi on December 10, reflecting parallel engagement as India’s goods trade with the EU reached $136.53 billion in 2024–25.