India, EU eye FTA with reciprocal concessions

India and the European Union resumed talks for a free trade agreement on Monday after a gap of more than five months, with the fragmented global economic order forming an urgent backdrop.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

NEW DELHI:

Officials said this could prompt the EU to relax non-tariff barriers for Indian goods, allow easier business mobility and agree to "progressively but reciprocally" liberalise tariffs on sensitive sectors.

India is willing to reduce tariffs on the EU's key requests such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, wines and whiskies, depending on reciprocal concessions related to Indian interests such as easier business mobility for services exports, they said requesting anonymity.

The two sides are meeting in Brussels.