India and EU Advance Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with Ministerial Dialogue in Brussels

India and the European Union have taken a decisive step forward in their long-standing pursuit of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal concluding high-level talks with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels on January 8-9, 2026. The two-day ministerial engagement represents a significant moment in the FTA negotiations, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to accelerating the agreement.​

Guidance and Constructive Engagement

During the Brussels dialogue, Minister Goyal and Commissioner Šefčovič provided strategic guidance to their respective negotiating teams with the objective of resolving pending issues and expediting the agreement. Both leaders underscored the political resolve on either side to address outstanding matters through constructive engagement, emphasizing the strategic importance of concluding a fair, balanced, and ambitious agreement that aligns with their shared values and economic priorities.​

Progress Across Negotiating Tracks

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed that both sides acknowledged steady progress across multiple negotiating tracks, including Market Access for Goods, Rules of Origin, and Services. The ministerial-level discussions reaffirmed the commitment to a rules-based trading framework and a modern economic partnership that safeguards the interests of farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while enabling Indian industries to integrate more deeply into global supply chains.