Overview
- Piyush Goyal concluded a two-day visit to Brussels on January 9 after meetings with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič aimed at expediting the Free Trade Agreement.
- Both sides reaffirmed a commitment to a rules-based framework that protects farmers and MSMEs and supports deeper integration of Indian industry into global supply chains.
- Officials noted steady progress across negotiating tracks including market access for goods, rules of origin, and services.
- The ministerial session followed January 6–7 talks between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and EU trade director-general Sabine Weyand focused on narrowing divergences.
- An India–EU Summit on January 27 is the next milestone as negotiators tackle gaps over tariffs on autos, medical devices, wine and spirits, meat and poultry, stronger IP rules, and India’s push for zero-duty access for labour-intensive exports.