Overview

• EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen are in New Delhi on September 12–13 to steer late-stage negotiations.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said both sides reaffirmed a shared goal of concluding the free trade agreement at the earliest.
• Agriculture has been elevated on the agenda, with EU sources pointing to agri‑food market access, Geographical Indications, SPS rules, dairy, and wine and spirits as key files.
• People familiar with the talks say negotiators are narrowing differences on electric vehicles and farm goods, weighing phased openings with quotas, lower duties on European whisky, limited procurement access, and tariff relief for Indian textiles and processed foods.
• The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and other non‑tariff barriers remain sticking points, with India seeking relief from rules it views as costly for carbon‑intensive exports.