- Negotiations
The European Union and India launched negotiations on a bilateral free trade and investment agreement in June 2007. However, between the governments, a number of controversies have been plaguing the talks. Delhi wants Brussels to relax its stringent food safety criteria which penalise Indian farm and fishery exports and to make it easier for Indian professionals to work in the EU. Europe is primarily out to win major openings of India’s services sector and broad liberalisation of foreign investment, while India does not want to discuss allowing European firms to compete in India’s government procurement market.
Indian social movements, including fisherfolk and labour unions, people living with HIV/AIDS and other health activists have been mobilizing against the FTA. International actions and campaigns have particularly targeted the proposed intellectual property provisions of the agreement, and the impact of the FTA on access to medicines.
last update: May 2012
Photo: MSF
15-Jul-2020
The Hindu Business Line
India and the EU may take a fresh look at the long-pending bilateral Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) and see if a meeting ground could be reached and the talks taken forward when leaders meet at the India-EU Summit.
14-Jul-2020
Express
India has blasted the EU and Vietnam for ratifying a free trade agreement that would be "another blow" to Indian businesses.
10-Jul-2020
The Print
Bilateral trade and investment ties between India and the EU have become severely strained with the Modi government’s initial refusal to resume stalled negotiations on the proposed India-EU free trade agreement .
29-May-2020
The Tribune
India and the European Union on Thursday discussed preparations for a long-due summit meeting, which was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
16-Dec-2019
BusinessLine
But the EU wants issues such as market access for automobiles, wines, and govt procurement issues resolved first.
11-Dec-2019
Outlook India
The European Union said it was hopeful of forward movement in negotiations with India on the long-pending free trade agreement, and favoured opening separate talks for an investment protection treaty.
11-Dec-2019
The Hindu Business Line
India and the EU need to sort out complex issues such as government procurement, labour standards and sustainability as part of the bilateral free trade talks that have been stuck for more than half a decade.
12-Nov-2019
The Hindu
Move follows govt. decision to pull out of RCEP; Europe sceptical about timeline.
6-Nov-2019
International The News
Thailand has already submitted a list of around 200 items to be traded between the two countries under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but Pakistan government’s response and progress was waited.
6-Nov-2019
First Post
India should hold talks with the European Union for a free trade agreement, the government said on Tuesday, a day after it refused to join a China-backed regional trade pact for fear of a flood of cheap Chinese imports.