Overview

• The 14th negotiating round concluded in Brussels on October 10, and an Indian team stayed on to work specifically on Rules of Origin while both sides keep engaging virtually.
• Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal called progress in the last round very positive and characterized this stage as the most arduous in the process.
• Dates for the next formal round are not set, with EU officials expected to visit New Delhi next month to carry talks forward.
• The negotiation spans 23 chapters, and the latest round covered 12 areas across 91 technical sessions, including market access for goods and services, SPS and TBT.
• Bilateral goods trade totaled USD 136.53 billion in 2024–25, and exporters say a concluded pact could enable duty-free access that improves competitiveness in European markets.