India-EU Crucial FTA Talks in Brussels: Goyal Meets Sefcovic to Bridge Differences

• India and the EU are holding crucial ministerial-level discussions on January 8-9 in Brussels to advance the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is meeting EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to provide strategic guidance and resolve pending issues for a balanced agreement.
• India seeks zero-duty access for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, and gems, while the EU demands duty cuts on automobiles, medical devices, and wine.
• Key differences include steel, cars, and the EU's carbon tax; these talks precede an India-EU Summit and Republic Day parade where EU leaders will be chief guests.
• The 16th round of negotiations concluded recently, with talks resuming in June 2022 after a nine-year hiatus, aiming to finalize the comprehensive FTA.

Why It Matters: High-stakes India-EU FTA talks aim to resolve differences and expedite a comprehensive trade agreement.