India and the European Union (EU) are set to hold their next round of talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) in New Delhi this week. The 13th round of talks, which will begin on September 8, will focus on key issues such as non-tariff barriers, market access, and public procurement. The two sides are moving fast towards the goal of finalising the talks by the end of this year.
According to media reports, sources say that several high-level meetings will be held in New Delhi and Brussels in the next few weeks to finalise the strategic agenda and other outcomes for the India-EU summit to be hosted by India in the first quarter of 2026.
Sources said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Agriculture Commissioner Christoph Hansen will visit New Delhi to provide political impetus to the talks. According to sources, “Tariff wars are creating distortions and everyone is keen to know how we can reduce the risks.” He said Sefcovic will hold discussions with Trade Minister Piyush Goyal so that the talks do not get entangled in technical details and progress is ensured.
Of the 23 chapters of the FTA, 11 have been agreed upon, including intellectual property, customs and trade facilitation, transparency, regulatory practices, mutual administrative assistance, small and medium enterprises, sustainable food systems, dispute settlement, competition and subsidies, digital trade, and anti-fraud clauses. Another chapter on capital movement is close to being finalised. Sources said the 13th and 14th rounds (the 14th round will be held in Brussels from October 8) will focus on complex topics such as technical trade barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, market access, rules of origin, and public procurement.
Proposals on services and investment were exchanged in July, and the two sides are evaluating them and moving towards finding a balance. The digital trade chapter has been agreed upon, and the focus is now on resolving technical issues.
India has made its restrictions clear by keeping products like rice, sugar, and dairy out of the deal. The EU wants market access for automobiles and spirits. According to sources, the EU is willing to consider exports of aquaculture goods, given the impact of the recent US doubling of tariffs on products like shrimp. Last year, India exported shrimp worth about $2.8 billion to the US.
On September 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed trade talks in a phone conversation with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EU leaders have insisted on finalising the talks by the end of this year.
Several other meetings in the coming weeks will also strengthen India-EU relations. On September 17, EU foreign and security policy chief Kaja Kallas will announce a new strategic agenda with India. The European Council will approve this vision before the end of the year, so that it can be adopted at the 2026 summit. In addition, a dialogue on counter-terrorism cooperation will take place in Brussels this week, and the EU’s Political and Security Committee will discuss strengthening strategic cooperation with the Indian side.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the Indo-Pacific Forum in Brussels on November 9-10, followed by a ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The TTC oversees cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotech, security, and defence. The dates of this meeting are yet to be decided.
