India-EU FTA: Negotiations progressing well on different parts; over 60% chapters finalised says Goyal

Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that negotiations between India and the European Union on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are progressing well, with more than half of the chapters already concluded.“I think the chief negotiators are working to converge on different parts of the agreement. Almost 60% of the chapters are completed and finalised,” Goyal told ANI.The minister further added that by the time “the EU trade commissioner and the EU food commissioner arrive in India, we will be quite set to try and conclude the agreement substantially.”European trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and agriculture and food commissioner Christophe Hansen are expected to visit New Delhi on September 12 and 13 to drive the discussions ahead. They will be holding meetings with minister Goyal aimed at fast-tracking the FTA talks and deepening economic cooperation.The EU Embassy in India confirmed the visit in a post on X, saying, “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.”Goyal is set to meet the European Union’s Trade Commissioner on Friday, a government official has said. The meeting will follow the 13th round of negotiations, which resumed on Monday, ANI reported. Meanwhile, the India-European Union Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is likely to come into force later this year, once all member states complete their ratification procedures.Separately, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul also highlighted backing for deal. During talks with EAM S Jaishankar, Wadephul pledged Germany’s support in pressing the European Commission to finalise the FTA.“Germany is in full support of carrying this Agreement, negotiated as soon as possible,” he said. “We are a free trade nation...the EU is working on (the Agreement with) India, that's the most important to us. I hope really that we can be successful.”He further added, “You can be assured that we will use all arguments we have with the Commission to put this forward and to reach a level between our countries and between the EU and India on this.”