India–EU FTA edges closer as both sides agree to accelerate negotiations

India and the European Union (EU) held a week-long round of discussions in New Delhi as part of their ongoing efforts to finalise a comprehensive and balanced trade agreement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. A team of EU negotiators visited India for detailed deliberations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"A senior team of negotiators from the European Union (EU) visited New Delhi from November 3 to 7, 2025, for negotiations with Indian counterparts on the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)," the ministry said in a statement.

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Broad scope of discussions

The week-long negotiations were aimed at advancing talks towards a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade deal. The deliberations covered a wide range of areas including goods, services, investment, trade and sustainable development, rules of origin, and technical trade barriers, the ministry noted.

As part of the discussions, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held detailed meetings with the European Commission's Director General for Trade, Sabine Weyand, to assess the progress made across negotiation tracks. The two-day stocktake meetings, held on November 5–6 in New Delhi, reviewed key outstanding issues in the India–EU FTA negotiations. Both sides agreed to further accelerate efforts towards achieving a balanced trade agreement.

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India seeks clarity on EU regulations

The Commerce Secretary reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving an outcome that promotes economic growth and development while ensuring a fair and balanced distribution of benefits. He also emphasised the need for clarity and predictability in the implementation of emerging EU regulatory measures, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the proposed new steel regulation.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the substantive progress made across several negotiating areas and agreed to maintain the positive momentum. The discussions helped narrow divergences, with a common understanding reached on many issues. Officials underscored the importance of continued technical-level engagement in the coming weeks to bridge remaining gaps and work towards concluding the India–EU FTA negotiations at the earliest.

The negotiations and stocktake meetings reflected the strong commitment on both sides to deepen the India–EU partnership and to finalise an ambitious, forward-looking agreement that promotes resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth.