Overview
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will meet EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to provide strategic guidance and narrow remaining divergences.
- The visit follows a week of intensive talks in Brussels and high‑level discussions between India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and EU trade chief Sabine Weyand on January 6–7.
- India is seeking zero‑duty entry for labour‑intensive products including textiles, leather, apparel, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts.
- Negotiations have entered their toughest phase with complex issues such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which could raise costs for Indian steel, aluminium and cement exports.
- Talks cover 23 policy areas within a comprehensive pact, and the EU remains India’s largest goods trading partner with $136.53 billion in trade during 2024–25.