Piyush Goyal To Visit Brussels For Final Phase Of India–EU FTA Talks

New Delhi, Jan 5 (KNN) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Brussels this week for discussions with European Union officials on the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as negotiations enter their final phase, an official said.

Goyal is scheduled to meet Maros Sefcovic, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Trade, during his two-day visit on January 8–9. The minister is expected to leave India on Tuesday night, the official told PTI.

Visit to Liechtenstein Ahead of Brussels Talks

Prior to his Brussels engagements, Goyal will visit Liechtenstein on January 7 to hold discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. 

Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), along with Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. India and EFTA implemented a free trade agreement on October 1, 2025.

India–EU Negotiations at a Critical Juncture

Goyal’s Brussels visit comes at a crucial point in the India–EU FTA negotiations, with both sides stepping up efforts to conclude a comprehensive and balanced agreement at the earliest. 

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal will also be in Brussels during this period.

Earlier, on December 15, Agrawal said negotiations with the 27-nation EU bloc had entered the ‘most difficult' stage, with both sides working to bridge remaining differences. He noted that the European Union’s proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is among the issues under discussion.

The 16th round of negotiations concluded earlier this month, from December 3 to 9, during which key chapters covering goods, services, investment, rules of origin and technical barriers to trade were taken up.

Key Demands and Potential Gains

The EU has sought significant tariff reductions in sectors such as automobiles and medical devices, along with tax cuts on products including wine, spirits, meat and poultry, and stronger commitments on intellectual property protection.

From India’s perspective, a successful agreement could enhance the competitiveness of exports such as ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, steel, petroleum products and electrical machinery in the European market.

The proposed trade pact spans 23 policy areas, including trade in goods and services, investment, trade remedies, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, competition, government procurement, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights, geographical indications and sustainable development.

(KNN Bureau)