NEW DELHI– India is accelerating trade negotiations with key global partners—including the European Union (EU), the United States, and the ASEAN bloc—as the country targets critical deadlines over the coming months, officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday.
During a press briefing, Special Secretary Satya Srinivas shared updates on the ongoing talks, noting that while significant headway has been made in some areas, others are progressing more slowly.
“The 12th round of negotiations with the EU concluded last week and was very productive,” Srinivas said. “Both sides have now exchanged market access offers for goods and services.”
He added that several sections of the proposed deal—referred to as “chapters”—have already been finalized, while negotiations continue on more contentious issues. The next round of India-EU talks is expected to take place in India in the first week of September.
India and the EU are aiming to finalize a comprehensive free trade agreement by the end of 2025. However, to expedite the process, both parties have agreed to first pursue an interim deal.
Meanwhile, negotiations with the United States are also gaining momentum. An Indian delegation is currently in Washington for another round of discussions to finalize a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which is expected to be concluded by this fall.
This marks the third visit by Indian officials to the U.S. in recent months—a sign of mutual commitment to concluding the agreement. Srinivas noted that the previous round held in India successfully closed several chapters and resolved outstanding issues.
Progress is also being made on India’s proposed free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The next round of talks is expected to be held in New Delhi in August, followed by another session in Malaysia in October.
India is aiming to make significant progress ahead of the ASEAN-India Summit, which is scheduled for the end of October. (Source: IANS)
