Commerce Secy discusses EU trade issues with Ambassadors

The commerce ministry today held detailed discussions with Indian Ambassadors in European countries on a range of issues, including free trade agreement.
Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia held the discussions through DVC (desktop video conferencing), the ministry said in a statement.
"This is a part of a new initiative of interaction that has been taken recently and this is the second such interaction after the ASEAN region," it said.
The deliberations took place on a range of trade issues, including matters pertaining to institutional mechanisms, market access issues and free trade agreements, it added.
India and the European Union is negotiating a comprehensive free trade pact since June 2007.

The negotiations have witnessed many hurdles with both sides having major differences on crucial issues like intellectual property rights, duty cut in automobile and spirits, and liberal visa regime.
The two-way commerce in goods between India and the EU stood at USD 98.5 billion in 2014-15.