India–EU free trade agreement negotiations are set to regain momentum as Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visits Brussels for a two-day official engagement from 8–9 January 2026. The visit signals a renewed political push to advance and conclude the long-pending trade pact.
The talks come at a crucial stage in India–EU economic relations. After a gap of more than nine years, both sides revived FTA negotiations in June 2022. Since then, they have completed 14 negotiation rounds, along with multiple ministerial-level discussions. The most recent high-level interaction took place in December 2025.
The European Union remains India’s largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment. Bilateral trade in goods strengthened further during the 2024–25 financial year. Importantly, both sides view the proposed FTA as more than a tariff-reduction exercise. Instead, they see it as a comprehensive economic partnership aligned with current global trade realities.
During the visit, Goyal will hold high-level meetings with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. These discussions aim to provide strategic direction to negotiating teams, resolve outstanding issues, and accelerate progress towards a balanced agreement.
The ministerial talks follow an intensive week of negotiations in Brussels. Earlier, on 6–7 January 2026, India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met European Commission Director-General for Trade Sabine Weyand to build technical groundwork.
A key priority for India is securing zero-duty market access for labour-intensive sectors. These include textiles, apparel, leather, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts. The strategy aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of delivering tangible trade benefits to workers, MSMEs, and exporters.
Both India and the EU have reiterated strong political commitment to finalising the deal. The upcoming discussions are expected to reinforce support for a rules-based trade framework while integrating Indian industries more deeply into global value chains.
