Both sides have exchanged their respective lists as part of negotiations for a proposed pact on geographical indications (GI), aimed at easing trade in GI-tagged products such as handicrafts and agricultural goods, the people said. Such products derive unique qualities from their place of origin and traditional production methods. GI products originate from a specific location in a country and are manufactured using traditional knowledge and hence, deemed to possess a certain quality that others don’t.
India’s key demands on steel are also likely to be taken up during the talks, the people said. India may seek carve outs for certain stainless steel product exports to the EU as the bloc has imposed a safeguard quota and raised duties to 50%.
“We are trying to push for a deal to happen soon. Some visits are planned in early January,” said an official.
The commerce and industry ministry met stakeholders from steel and automotive industries last week amid the EU’s proposal to expand CBAM to 180 downstream goods and strengthen anti-circumvention provisions for all countries. CBAM certificates will be sold from February 1, 2027, for goods imported in 2026.
Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal is expected to travel to the EU around January 7 ahead of commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal’s visit on January 8 and 9 as India and the bloc enter the final stretch of negotiations for a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA). The visit comes ahead of some EU leaders’ expected travel to New Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations.
Another key issue pertains to critical minerals as the EU doesn’t want India to restrict exports of these minerals. “EU wants to ensure India does not restrict the export of critical minerals mined in India by using export duties,” a second official said.
The EU has dragged Indonesia to the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body on Jakarta’s export ban on nickel.
India and the EU are aiming to conclude the FTA negotiations by December. Separate talks for an investment protection agreement and an agreement on geographical indications are also underway.
India-European Union goods trade totalled $136.53 billion in FY25.
The two sides concluded the 14th round of FTA negotiations in Brussels on October 10. According to the EU, the talks focused on firming up an economically meaningful market access package.
The bloc has sought lower tariffs on its cars and alcoholic beverages.