Piyush Goyal Holds High-Level Talks in Brussels to Push India–EU Trade Pact Forward

Brussels/New Delhi: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry  Piyush Goyal has completed a crucial two-day visit to Brussels, reinforcing momentum in the ongoing negotiations for the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The visit, held on January 8 and 9, focused on resolving outstanding issues and accelerating progress towards a comprehensive trade deal between the two sides.

During the visit,  Goyal engaged in detailed discussions with the European Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič. The leaders provided strategic direction to their respective negotiating teams, aiming to bridge gaps and fast-track consensus on key elements of the agreement.

The ministerial-level dialogue followed an intensive week of diplomatic and technical engagements. Earlier, Commerce Secretary  Rajesh Agrawal held discussions with the European Commission’s Director-General for Trade, Ms. Sabine Weyand, on January 6 and 7. These meetings reviewed advancements across multiple negotiation chapters and identified areas requiring further convergence to enable meaningful progress at the political level.

The talks between the two sides covered critical components of the proposed FTA, including market access for goods, rules of origin, services, and other trade-related disciplines. Both delegations acknowledged the steady progress achieved so far and reiterated their commitment to addressing unresolved matters through continued engagement.

Emphasising the strategic significance of the agreement, India and the European Union reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding a fair, balanced, and forward-looking trade pact. The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen economic cooperation, enhance market opportunities, and support a transparent, rules-based global trading system.

The Brussels visit concluded on an optimistic note, with both sides expressing confidence in the negotiations and a renewed determination to work towards the early finalisation of a modern, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial India–EU Free Trade Agreement.