India and EU to Advance Free Trade Agreement Talks in September

Senior officials from India and the EU are set to continue discussions on the proposed free trade agreement in September. Talks aim to enhance commerce and investments. Both regions resumed negotiations on June 17, 2022, to finalize trade and investment terms after an eight-year hiatus.

Senior officials from India and the European Union (EU) will reconvene in September for the next round of talks on the proposed free trade agreement aimed at boosting commerce and investments. This announcement came from Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Darpan Jain.

The eighth round of talks concluded on June 28, with discussions covering all 21 chapters, including government procurement, digital trade, and market access. 'We plan to hold more inter-sessional meetings in July and August and intend to have another round in the last week of September,' Jain stated.

Formal negotiations between India and the EU resumed on June 17, 2022, after an eight-year gap. The trade agreement aims to expand India's exports of goods and services, as well as securing value chains. India's merchandise exports to the EU increased to USD 75.92 billion in 2023-24.