Overview
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal concluded two days of meetings in Brussels with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, providing guidance to teams to speed up the India–EU FTA talks.
- Both sides reported steady progress across key tracks, including market access for goods, rules of origin and services, following Jan. 6–7 technical stocktakes by Rajesh Agrawal and Sabine Weyand.
- Official statements reaffirmed a commitment to a rules-based framework that protects farmers and MSMEs and supports deeper integration of Indian industry into global supply chains.
- Core differences persist, with India seeking zero-duty access for labour‑intensive exports and the EU pressing for lower tariffs on autos, medical devices, wine and spirits, meat and poultry, along with stronger intellectual property rules.
- India has also flagged concerns over the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on carbon‑intensive imports, as both sides eye a narrow political window around Republic Day and the Jan. 27 India–EU Summit.