India-EU Trade Talks Enter Final Phase: Carbon Tax, Critical Minerals Top Agenda

• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to visit EU Jan 8-9 for final and most challenging phase of FTA talks.
• Key topics include Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), critical minerals, Geographical Indications (GI), and IPR.
• EU seeks unrestricted export of critical minerals from India; India wants CBAM exemptions for stainless steel.
• India aims for market access for labor-intensive exports, data-secure status, and skilled professional access.
• EU is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade reaching $137.5 billion in FY2023-24.

Why It Matters: India-EU FTA talks near conclusion, with carbon tax and critical minerals as major sticking points.