India-EU FTA gets a strategic push

GOVT SAYS BOTH SIDES KEEN ON SUSTAINING MOMENTUM IN NEGOTIATIONS

- FE BUREAU

THE TWO-DAY INTENSIVE discussions between European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal that concluded on Tuesday provided strategic guidance to the teams negotiating the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) so that the agreements could be concluded at the earliest.

Technical discussions were held across key chapters of India-EU FTA during Sefcovic’s visit, covering Market Access for Goods, Rules of Origin, Services, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade and Sustainable Development.

Sefcovic’s visit was preceded by high-level discussions between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Director-General Trade, European Commission, Sabine Weyand.

Before he met Goyal, Sefcovic also held discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday. He also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.