New Delhi: India and the European Union are working with sincerity and commitment to finalise a comprehensive and balanced free trade agreement that will benefit businesses and consumers on both sides, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.
Addressing the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) here, he said such an agreement cannot be a one-sided arrangement, as every negotiation involves a certain degree of give and take to ensure fairness and balance.
Goyal said, “he has long hours of jostling and fighting” with the EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on the proposed pact, but “I can tell you, he is a tough negotiator, very difficult to get anything past Maros”.
On September 9, the EU Embassy in India posted, “On 12-13 Sept, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Agriculture & Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen will be in town to meet Minister Piyush Goyal, take stock & power up India-EU business ties and connect with key stakeholders.”
The India-European Union Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is expected to be implemented later this year, once all parties complete their ratification processes. Earlier, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reaffirmed his country’s commitment to finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union as soon as possible.
During the meetings, India has emphasised that meaningful progress in trade negotiations requires equal focus on non-tariff barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff discussions, and regulatory frameworks must be inclusive, proportionate, and avoid restricting trade.
India has, over the past five years, inked several trade deals, that include the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) implemented in 2021, the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022, the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in 2024, and the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2025, which is yet to come into force.
The India-EFTA) Trade and the TEPA is expected to be implemented later this year once all parties complete their ratification processes.
Meanwhile, India is in talks for several other agreements, including the India-EU FTA, India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement, India-Peru FTA, India-Chile CEPA, India-New Zealand FTA, and a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.
