Sensitive farm issues kept out of India-EU trade pact

TALKS ON TO CONCLUDE DEAL BEFORE MONTH-END

- MUKESH JAGOTA

WITH SENSITIVE AGRICULTURE issues kept out of the prospective free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU), the negotiators from both sides are working on the last few remaining matters so that the deal is ready for announcement when the top leadership of the 27-member bloc visits New Delhi from January 25-27.

“There are few issues where negotiations are still ongoing. We are virtually engaging on a day-to-day basis and are trying to see if we can meet the timeline before our leaders can meet. That will be a good occasion (to announce the conclusion). We are making the right endeavour,’ Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said.