Next round of India-EU FTA talks in 2025
The Economic Times | 7 October 2024
Next round of India-EU FTA talks in 2025
New Delhi: The next round of India-European Union free trade agreement
(FTA) negotiations is likely to be held in the first quarter of next year even as the
two sides made limited progress on issues such as rules of origin and
government procurement in the just concluded ninth round from
September 23-27.
In government procurement, issues
related to state owned enterprises, Make in India and its application to EU
bidders and goods remain unresolved.
"Only issues related to sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures l, dispute
settlement and good regulatory practices have made progress," said an official.
India and the EU re-launched negotiations for an FTA after a nine-year hiatus
and started separate negotiations for an Investment Protection Agreement
and an Agreement on Geographical Indications in June 2022.
Negotiators said that EU wanted India to give explanation on the foreign
direct investment proposals it rejects, something that New Delhi is
apprehensive about.
The positions of the two sides on the negotiations on origin rules, which are
key to check FTA circumvention and cheap imports, and technical regulations
and conformity assessment were different on some products. They discussed
rules of origin for textile products, wood and paper products, chemicals,
precious metals and related products, machinery and electronics.
On the other hand, discussions on market access in goods, sectoral annexes on
cars, pharmaceuticals and disciplines relating to financial services, and
recognition of professional qualifications were positive, they said.
"This was a restricted round and the aim was to make progress on the
substance of the central issues and get the exact picture of the positions of the
two sides," the official added.
The two sides continued discussions on investment liberalisation except
services on the basis of a joint text.
