New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal engaged in significant discussions with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Friday, which are part of the efforts to establish a mutually advantageous India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

In this dialogue, we explored critical topics related to the proposed agreement. We reaffirmed our dedication to a rules-based trading framework and a contemporary economic partnership that protects the interests of farmers and MSMEs, while facilitating the integration of Indian industries into global supply chains,” Goyal shared in a post on X.

India is advocating for zero-duty access for its labor-intensive sectors, including textiles, leather, apparel, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts.

The Indian minister’s trip to Brussels highlights the escalating diplomatic and technical interactions between India and the EU.

The main goal of these discussions is to offer strategic guidance to the negotiating teams, address unresolved matters, and accelerate the completion of a balanced and ambitious agreement.

This ministerial engagement follows a week of concentrated discussions in Brussels, building on the groundwork established during previous high-level talks this week between India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and the Director-General for Trade of the European Commission, Sabine Weyand.

The discussions occur at a pivotal moment for India-EU economic relations. The negotiations were robustly re-launched in June 2022 after a pause of more than nine years, demonstrating a renewed mutual commitment to enhance economic integration. Since the reopening, the two sides have completed 14 rounds of vigorous negotiations and numerous high-level dialogues at the ministerial level, with the most recent interaction occurring in December 2025, as stated in an official announcement.

Both India and the EU have shown a strong political will to achieve a comprehensive deal. The upcoming negotiations are anticipated to reaffirm both parties' commitment to a rules-based trading framework and a modern economic partnership that protects the interests of farmers and MSMEs, all while incorporating Indian industries into global supply chains, it noted.

The European Union currently stands as India’s largest trading partner and a vital investor, with bilateral trade in goods significantly enhanced in the 2024-25 financial year. This agreement is envisioned not merely as a trade deal, but as a comprehensive partnership that addresses the realities of the modern economy, the statement further indicated.