Subhechcha Ganguly 
India and the European Union (EU) will hold the 13th round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in New Delhi from September 8, with discussions set to move into more complex areas such as non-tariff barriers, market access, rules of origin and public procurement. Both sides are aiming to conclude the deal by the end of this year, people familiar with the matter said.
The talks come against the backdrop of growing global trade turbulence, including tariff hikes by the United States, which have disrupted supply chains and heightened calls for “derisking” among major economies. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen are scheduled to visit New Delhi in the coming weeks to inject political momentum into the negotiations during meetings with Indian trade minister Piyush Goyal.
So far, the two sides have closed 11 of the 23 chapters of the FTA covering areas such as intellectual property, customs facilitation, competition, subsidies, SMEs, and digital trade. Another chapter on capital movement is nearing completion, while the upcoming rounds in New Delhi and Brussels (October 8) will address technical trade barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, and services and investment offers exchanged in July.
India has drawn clear red lines by excluding sensitive products like rice, sugar, and dairy, while the EU is seeking market access for automobiles and spirits. Brussels is also considering greater access for aquaculture exports following recent US tariff hikes on shrimp imports, which hit India’s $2.8 billion shrimp exports to the US last year.
The negotiations featured in a recent phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with EU leaders urging a year-end conclusion.
Beyond trade, preparations are underway for the India-EU Summit in early 2026, where a new strategic agenda is expected to be unveiled. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will outline the bloc’s vision on September 17, with endorsement by the European Council anticipated before year-end. Meanwhile, dialogues on counterterrorism, security, and technology cooperation — including through the India-EU Trade and Technology Council — will continue in the months ahead.
