- Negotiations on a trade agreement between India and the EU are in their final stages, as confirmed by the Indian Secretary of Commerce.
- January 2026 is indicated as a realistic deadline for the conclusion of talks, in connection with the planned political summit in New Delhi.
- The agreement would be the largest trade agreement in India’s history, covering access to the EU market.
- For India, this is part of its trade diversification strategy, implemented in the context of global tariff tensions.
Negotiations close to completion
India is very close to finalising a comprehensive trade agreement with the European Union. As reported by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, most of the key issues have already been agreed and the talks are focusing on closing the final chapters of the agreement. According to the Indian side, there is a real possibility of bringing the negotiations to a conclusion as early as January 2026.
An important timing factor is the planned EU-India summit in New Delhi, which is due to take place on 27 January. A meeting of leaders from both sides could create the political conditions to announce the end of the negotiations or formally confirm the agreement, if the technical talks are closed early.
Economic relevance and international context
The envisaged agreement would be significant for the economic relationship between India and the EU. The EU is one of India’s largest trading partners and the agreement would open the Indian market more widely to European goods and services. For New Delhi, it would be the largest trade deal to date, both in terms of scale and strategic importance.
Increasing cooperation with the EU is part of India’s broader policy of seeking to mitigate risks arising from global trade tensions. Statements by government officials indicate that the pace of talks with Brussels contrasts with the slower progress of negotiations with other partners, including the United States. This makes the agreement with the EU now seen as India’s most advanced and viable trade project.
