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Key Points

India and the European Union are preparing for their 14th round of free trade agreement talks in Brussels next month. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that both sides will reach a very good agreement despite some differences. The EU is particularly focused on securing duty concessions for its auto sector companies operating in India. These negotiations represent a significant step toward strengthening economic partnership and creating new job opportunities.

Key Points: India EU Free Trade Agreement Talks Resume Brussels October 6

  • Both sides committed to balanced mutually beneficial trade agreement
  • EU seeks duty concessions in India's auto sector with 100% import duties
  • Negotiations follow 13th round held in India September 8-12
  • FTA aims to strengthen economic ties and create jobs in India
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India, EU to hold 14th round of free trade agreement talks in Brussels from Oct 6-10

India and EU hold 14th round of FTA negotiations in Brussels from Oct 6-10, focusing on auto sector duties and balanced deal for mutual economic benefits.

"India, EU teams are engaged in intense negotiations for a free-trade agreement - Piyush Goyal"

New Delhi, Sep 15

India and the European Union will hold the 14th round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in Brussels between October 6 and 10, according to officials from Commerce Ministry.

Both sides have expressed commitment to finalising a deal that is balanced and mutually beneficial.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal earlier said that while India and the EU may not be able to agree on every issue, he is confident that the outcome will be a “very good agreement.”

“India, EU teams are engaged in intense negotiations for a free-trade agreement,” the Union Minister stated.

He added that negotiators from both sides are currently engaged in intense discussions to close the gaps.

The last round of talks, the 13th, took place in India from September 8 to 12. During that round, EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen met with Goyal to review the progress of the negotiations.

One of the key demands from the EU is duty concessions in the auto sector. At present, India levies import duties of over 100 per cent on vehicles.

India recently agreed to similar concessions for UK auto firms under a trade deal signed in May this year. The EU hopes for a similar arrangement to boost market access for its companies.

A number of European auto giants, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, already operate manufacturing facilities in India.

The EU has said that the partnership is not only about trade but also about high-value investment, which it believes will create thousands of new jobs in India.

With negotiations set to continue in Brussels next month, both sides are pushing to narrow differences and move closer to a long-awaited FTA that could significantly strengthen India-EU economic ties.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see both sides committed to balanced agreement. But I hope we don't give away too much on auto duties - our domestic auto industry needs protection to grow and compete globally 🚗
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Aman W
European cars becoming cheaper would be great for consumers! But government should ensure Indian companies get equal opportunities in EU markets. Fair trade should work both ways.
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Sarah B
As someone working in export sector, this FTA could open so many opportunities. Hope they finalize it soon - Indian products deserve better access to European markets!
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Vikram M
The job creation aspect is promising. If EU companies bring high-value investments as promised, it could boost our manufacturing sector significantly. Fingers crossed for positive outcome!
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Nikhil C
While I support the FTA, I hope our negotiators are tough on services sector too. Many Indian IT professionals face visa issues in EU countries - this should be part of the discussion.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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