India-EU BTIA conclude another round of negotiations

Chief negotiators of India and the European Union (EU) met here from May 15 to May 17 and concluded another round of negotiations for the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).

An official press release said that all issues were put on the table for discussions.

Negotiators on both sides felt that some positive movements have been accomplished, though they admitted that many critical issues still needed to be discussed further.

The negotiators reiterated their commitment for a balanced and ambitious agreement as per the mandate given to them.

It maybe recalled that when Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma met with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski two years ago, he had said then that the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations was in its final leg.

This year's negotiations was the 14th. Thirteen previous rounds of negotiations have been held.

The negotiations cover trade in goods, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights and geographical indications, competition policy, customs and trade facilitation, trade defence, dispute settlement, government procurement and sustainable development.

Negotiations are being carried out as per mandate received from the Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC).