India–EU FTA talks resume in Brussels

India and the European Union will hold ministerial-level discussions on January 8 and 9 in Brussels as both sides seek to narrow differences and accelerate progress on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), say reports from news agencies.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to meet EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič during the two day visit. The discussions are aimed at resolving outstanding issues and moving closer to an early conclusion of the long-pending trade pact.

India is pressing for zero-duty market access for its labour-intensive sectors, including textiles, leather, apparel, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts. The EU currently accounts for around 17 percent of India’s total exports, while exports to India represent about 9 percent of the bloc’s total overseas shipments.

On its part, the European Union is seeking substantial duty reductions across several categories. These include automobiles and medical devices, along with lower tariffs on wines, spirits, meat and poultry. The EU is also pushing for a stronger intellectual property rights framework as part of the agreement.

For the beverage alcohol sector, the EU’s renewed focus on tariff cuts for wines and spirits is being closely watched, as it could have significant implications for market access and pricing dynamics in India’s growing premium and imported alcohol segments.