India and the European Union have completed negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said in New Delhi on Monday. The deal set to be formally announced on Tuesday. Commerce Secretary described the deal as balanced and future-oriented from India’s standpoint, saying it would deepen India’s economic engagement with the EU.
Agrawal noted that the agreement is currently undergoing legal vetting, with work underway to finalise the remaining procedures and sign the pact as soon as possible. The FTA is likely to be signed later this year and may come into force early next year, Hindustan Times reported.
EU remains a vital economic & strategic partner for India
Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that India and the European Union are dedicated to finalising a wide-ranging, mutually beneficial free trade agreement that would enhance growth and prosperity for businesses and citizens on both sides.
He said, “The European Union remains a vital economic & strategic partner for India, and we value our shared commitment to a mutually beneficial, ambitious India-EU FTA for the prosperity of our businesses and people.”
Truly delighted to welcome you my friend, @MarosSefcovic!
Pleased to agree that sustained & constructive engagement between us & our teams over the past year has brought us closer to a fruitful outcome.
The European Union remains a vital economic & strategic partner for India,… https://t.co/T5Ll2jaaAe
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 25, 2026
‘Mother of all deal’: India-EU FTA
The India-EU trade agreement has been in negotiation for almost 18 years, making it one of the longest-standing trade discussions for India. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has previously referred to the proposed deal as India’s “mother of all agreements.”
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in New Delhi on Monday to participate in the 77th Republic Day celebrations, ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was honoured to welcome the EU leaders, adding that their visit highlights the expanding strength of the India–European Union partnership.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said in a release that India-EU bilateral engagement has expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas, particularly after the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February last year.
Source link
[ad_3]