India and EU to Kickoff Crucial Free Trade Agreement Talks

Senior Indian and EU officials will begin a new round of free trade agreement negotiations focused on boosting bilateral trade and investment. Key topics include sustainability measures affecting Indian exports. The talks, resuming after an eight-year hiatus, will address core trade issues and regulations like CBAM and EUDR.

Senior officials from India and the 27-member European Union (EU) are set to begin a new series of negotiations for a much-anticipated free trade agreement on Monday, an official confirmed.

The agreement aims to further enhance bilateral trade and investments between the two regions. Ongoing discussions also cover an investment protection agreement and geographical indications (GIs).

The five-day talks, commencing on September 23, mark the ninth round of negotiations and will address core trade issues, including the import duty known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which takes effect in 2026.

(With inputs from agencies.)