Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday met members of the Committee on International Trade Affairs (INTA) from the European Parliament in New Delhi to deepen India–EU economic cooperation and advance ongoing trade and investment partnerships.
Focus on Strengthening Economic Relations
According to the Ministry of Finance, discussions centred on enhancing bilateral trade and investment while reaffirming both sides’ commitment to building mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships.
“The dialogue focused on strengthening India-EU trade and investment ties, with both sides looking forward to deeper and more balanced cooperation,” the ministry posted on X.
The INTA Committee plays a key role in shaping the European Union’s trade and external economic policies, and the meeting comes as India and the EU intensify efforts to conclude a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025.
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Progress on FTA Negotiations
In a parallel statement, the Commerce Ministry said that India and the EU agreed that issues related to steel, automobiles, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and other regulatory measures would need further discussions due to their sensitivity.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to finalise the FTA by December 2025, following the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the Commission’s visit to New Delhi earlier this year.
“The engagement focused on achieving a balanced and equitable trade agreement that reflects strategic trust between India and the European Union while respecting each other’s priorities,” the ministry said.
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Addressing Key Trade Barriers
The talks also included discussions on non-tariff measures, new EU regulations, and India’s demand for preferential treatment for labour-intensive sectors. Both sides agreed to collaborate on finalising non-sensitive industrial tariff lines and maintain close coordination to resolve outstanding issues.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier held talks in Brussels from October 26 to 28, soon after the 14th round of FTA negotiations (October 6–10), furthering momentum toward an ambitious and balanced trade agreement.
