- 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-May-2011
India’s proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union could include tariff reduction on import of vehicles as well as automotive components.
10-May-2011
IP Watch
According to European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, there are still thorny issues on the table in the ongoing EU-India free trade agreement talks, including intellectual property issues.
5-May-2011
India will not compromise its stand or take a position on intellectual property rights (IPR), especially on pharmaceuticals, beyond its domestic law and agreements as mandated under the aegis of the global trade body—World Trade Organization (WTO).
28-Apr-2011
Even as a large number of consumer and NGO groups have come out in support of more “transparency’’ in sharing information on trade treaties, the Prime Minister’s Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) is meeting on Friday to review various treaties including the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA).
26-Apr-2011
Negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have entered a crucial phase and contours of the deal have started to emerge but there are still some issues which need to be resolved, EU official say.
23-Apr-2011
Ska Keller, a Green member of the European Parliament, has warned that the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and European Union will have serious consequences for the Indian people.
23-Apr-2011
The BJP has demanded an immediate halt to all plans to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) and asked that an all-party meeting be called to analyse the impact assessment reports of such an agreement.
21-Apr-2011
CEO
One of the European Union’s official advisory bodies has spoken out about the flawed negotiating process in the EU-India free trade agreement (FTA).
21-Apr-2011
Negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have entered a crucial phase and contours of the deal have started to emerge but there are still some issues which need to be resolved, EU official say.
20-Apr-2011
Boell India
The Heinrich Böll Foundation along with partners Anthra, MISEREOR and the Third World Network (TWN) organized under the auspices of the Ecofair Trade Dialogue a two day Expert Consultation in New Delhi on the 11. & 12.04.2011 to gauge the perception and threat potential of the FTA on the Right to Food of various marginalized stakeholder groups in India.
