India-EU FTA Will Elevate Our Strategic Ties, Says Jaishankar

The FTA Gained Urgency in the Face of Global Economic Churn

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar and European trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Wednesday reviewed progress in negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) on a free trade agreement, with both sides emphasizing that the deal would elevate the bilateral partnership to the next level.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set a deadline for concluding the FTA by the year-end. Negotiations on the trade deal have gained urgency in the face of global economic churn created by the tariff policies of President Donald Trump's administration in the US.

Following a meeting with Sefcovic in Brussels, Jaishankar said in a social media post that both sides recognized the "progress in our discussions for a comprehensive, balanced and meaningful FTA agreement between India and EU".

"Agreed that it would elevate our strategic partnership, that is rapidly acquiring new dimensions and facets," he added.