Page 3 - Trade Talks

Piyush Goyal to visit Brussels Oct 27-28 to push India-EU trade pact talks

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels on October 27 for talks with his EU counterpart to give political impetus to the proposed trade pact, as the deadline to conclude negotiations nears. During the two-day visit, Goyal will meet Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade of the European Union Maros Sefcovic, the commerce ministry said on Sunday. "The visit comes at a crucial stage in the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, as both sides intensify efforts to conclude a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest," it said. The minister's visit aims to provide strategic direction and "political impetus" to the talks, it added. Discussions are expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA, including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. "The visit will also serve to review progress achieved so far and to identify areas requiring further convergence," the

High-level EU trade delegation to visit India next week to push FTA talks

A seven-member high-powered trade delegation of the European Union (EU) will visit India next week to push for finalising the long-awaited bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides. The delegation of the EU Committee on International Trade will be in India from October 27 to 29 to discuss trade, economic and investment relations. It will be led by Cristina Maestre, the committee's standing rapporteur for India, and Brando Benifei. "The main objective of this visit is to contribute to increasing our mutual understanding amid intensive trade negotiations between the EU and India," Maestre and Benifei said in a statement. "The mission is timely taking place just a few months ahead of the deadline to conclude negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025," they said. "We look forward to discussing the issues at stake as both sides have a mutual interest in reaching a meaningful bilateral agreement and in protecting the rules-based multilateral trad

India, Germany discuss ways to increase cooperation in trade, investment

India and Germany on Thursday discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, technology, green energy, and skilling. These issues were discussed during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reich in Berlin. "The discussions focussed on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, technology, green energy, and skilling," the commerce ministry said. Goyal also met Levin Holle, Economic and Financial Policy Advisor at the Federal Chancellery and Germany's G7 and G20 Sherpa, and discussed ways to further deepen the bilateral economic relationship. He chaired a roundtable with CEOs and leaders of German Mittelstand companies at the Indian Embassy, who conveyed their keenness to do business in India and expand existing investments. The minister highlighted opportunities offered by India and the measures taken by India to facilitate investments and ease of doing business. The

India, EU discuss resolution of pending issues in proposed trade pact

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said he held a meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to discuss outstanding issues related to the proposed trade pact. The meeting was important as Goyal is scheduled to visit Brussels next week to give an impetus to the ongoing negotiations for the proposed trade agreement between India and the European Union. "Had a productive engagement focused on the positive resolution of the outstanding issues with respect to the India-EU FTA with Mr @MarosSefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, ahead of my Brussels visit starting next week," Goyal said in a post on X. Goyal's visit follows the conclusion of the 14th round of talks between the two sides from October 6 to October 10. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has also held talks with European Commission (EC) Director General for Trade (DG-Trade) Sabine Weyand in Brussels. Engagements between the two sides have increased as they have decided to conc

Samvat 2082: Rupee, bond trajectories rest on RBI rate cut, US trade talk

With inflation easing and rate cuts on the horizon, bond yields may soften while the rupee steadies as trade negotiations with the US shape market sentiment

India-US trade talks cordial; farmers, MSME interests protected: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said talks between India and the US on the proposed bilateral trade agreement are progressing in a cordial atmosphere and New Delhi will protect the interests of farmers, fishermen and MSME sectors. "Bharat ke kisano ka, machhuvaaron ka, Bharat ke MSME sector ka, jub tak desh hiton ko puri tarah se hum sambhalen nai, tab tak koi agreement kiya nai jata (No agreement can be made until we take care of the interests of India's farmers, fishermen and MSME sector)," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question about the progress of talks between the two countries on the proposed pact and by when it will be concluded. "Talks are going on in a cordial atmosphere," he said. The remarks are important as the US is seeking concessions in India's agriculture sector. The Indian official team, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington this week to hold trade talks with their US counterparts. In February this

China's rare-earth restrictions aim to beat US at its own game

China's move has rekindled tensions between the world's two largest economies, with President Trump threatening to increase already substantial tariffs on Chinese imports

Alckmin meets Rajnath, to hold trade meeting with Piyush Goyal on Oct 16

He is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Oil Minister Hardeep Puri. Alckmin is set to attend the India- Brazil Business Forum, the Ministry of External Affairs said

Best of BS Opinion: Starmer visit shows room for growth in India-UK trade

Today's Opinion pieces look at the potential for growth in India-UK trade, the hurdles to the Gaza peace plan, India's geopolitical opportunity, and Trump's hidden call for global change

US envoy-designate Sergio Gor in India to discuss trade, bilateral ties

Gor's visit comes as India and the US work to finalise a trade deal amid tensions over doubled tariffs and extra duties on Russian crude oil imports

India inks critical mineral, climate change and defence deals with UK

Modi, Starmer seek to build on FTA signed in July 24

Taking stock of US shutdown impact on trade talks, says Piyush Goyal

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says clarity on India-US trade negotiations is expected within a week; highlights export resilience and fintech leadership at GFF 2025

India-US continue dialogue to finalise bilateral trade pact by Nov: Goyal

India and the US are in continuous dialogue on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, and all possibilities are there to meet the November deadline for concluding the talks, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. On the possibility of the next round of trade negotiations in a physical mode, he said that every possibility exists, but with the US government currently in shutdown mode, it remains to be seen how, where, and when the next round of talks can take place. "Aap sub jante hain ki USA me aaj-kal government shut down mode me hai, toh uske maddenazar dekhna padega ki kaise baat-cheet ho sakti hai, kahan ho sakti hai, aur kab ho sakti hai (As you all know, the US government is currently in shutdown mode. So, keeping that in mind, we'll have to see how, where, and when the discussions can take place)," he told reporters here. The US government has stopped working since midnight on October 1 as Congress failed to pass a funding bill. Theoretically, this means

Keir Starmer's India visit to deepen trade, fintech, and defence ties

UK PM Keir Starmer's two-day India visit will focus on expanding trade under CETA, fintech partnerships, defence cooperation, and higher education links

India, Chile aim to finalise CEPA by year-end after fast-track talks

Commerce officials to visit Santiago this month for third round of CEPA talks, with focus on critical minerals and expanded market access

India, EU to begin next round of trade talks from Monday in Brussels

Senior officials of India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) will commence the next round of talks for a proposed free trade agreement on Monday in Brussels to iron out differences on issues for early conclusion of the negotiations, an official said. This will be the 14th round of negotiations between the two sides. The five-day talks will begin on October 6, the official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has recently expressed hope that the two sides will sign the agreement soon. The pact aims at boosting two-way commerce and investments. Goyal is also likely to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in South Africa later this month to review the progress of talks, as the deadline to conclude the negotiations is December. Sefcovic and the European Commission's Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen were here last month to review the progress of talks with Goyal. Both sides have targeted to conclude negotiations by December. In June 2022, India and the

Next round of talks on proposed trade pacts with Chile, Peru in Oct, Nov

The next round of negotiations between India and two South American countries, Chile and Peru, will be held in October and November, respectively, an official said. The five-day talks with Chile will start on October 27 in Santiago, the three-day deliberations with Peru will begin on November 3 in Lima, the official said. Both agreements are being negotiated separately. India is set to hold its second round of trade talks with Chile and the eighth round of negotiations with Peru. India and Chile implemented a preferential trade agreement (PTA) in 2006 and are now negotiating to widen its scope for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA between the two nations and seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), and critical minerals. The bilateral trade between India and Chile is modest. In 2024-25, India's exports t

Putin orders his govt to address India's trade imbalance concerns

Ahead of the India-Russia summit, President Putin directs ministers to resolve trade imbalance, ease barriers for Indian exports and strengthen private sector ties

India-EFTA agreement set to be launched on October 1 after long wait

India's first European trade deal ensures $100 bn investment, tariff cuts, and potential for 1 million jobs over 15 years

India and US discuss contours of trade deal; seek early conclusion

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal led a delegation to New York, where India and the US discussed contours of a trade deal and agreed to work towards an early conclusion despite oil-related hurdles