- 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
4-Jun-2011
India is hopeful of signing the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union this year and negotiations are at an ‘advanced stage’, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said today.
25-May-2011
Indicating that differences persists between India and European Union over their proposed free trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said even the "best of astrologers would not know" about the timeline.
22-May-2011
India will protect its automobile industry as it has reached the final stages of negotiations for a free trade agreement with European Union.
19-May-2011
ToI
The possibility of fully-built vehicles being included in India’s FTA with EU — home to auto majors like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Fiat and Renault — is causing considerable heartburn in the auto industry.
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.
