- 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
17-Jul-2011
The European Union has sought substantial reduction or even elimination of duties in export of its automobiles, wines and spirits to India as a "must have" in the free trade agreement being negotiated between the two sides.
15-Jul-2011
Public Service Europe
Conflict between European and Indian pharma industries might be played out again in FTAs with other nations
10-Jul-2011
The European Union has informed the WTO that it is pressing for inclusion of strong IPR regime in the free trade agreement under negotiations with India even as the Commerce Ministry has maintained that New Delhi will not yield to the EU on this issue.
6-Jul-2011
Reuters
Millions of people dependent on life-saving generic drugs to treat HIV/AIDS will die if India stops producing cheap drugs for the disease due to its trade deal with the European Union, the head of UNAIDS warned on Tuesday.
5-Jul-2011
The India-EU free trade agreement is yet to see daylight. Labour and environmental issues may derail it, writes Biswajit Dhar
4-Jul-2011
Despite a demand by the European Union (EU), India is unlikely to allow a clause in a proposed trade pact with the bloc that permits an overseas investor to sue a host country at an international dispute settlement agency.
28-Jun-2011
The India government is planning Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with European countries. However, Indian industry is anxious as Europeans are sensitive to issues which are considered extraneous to trade in this part of the world.
26-Jun-2011
Amid speculations of India giving in to EU’s demand on lowering duty on imported cars in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), the auto industry has cautioned that if such a concession was granted, future investments in the sector in the country will be hit.
26-Jun-2011
To protect farmers’ interests, India has made it clear to EU that duty-free imports of wheat, barley, lemons, apples, pears and meslin flour will not be allowed under the proposed free trade agreement.
23-Jun-2011
MSF
India formally announced at the UN High
Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS that it will not accept data exclusivity, a
provision harmful to access to affordable medicines, as part of a free trade
agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union.