India-EU FTA: Talks on, negotiators working to converge on different parts

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that chief negotiators are working to converge on different parts of a potential India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA).

"Almost 60 per cent of the chapters are completed and finalised," he said.

The minister also said that by the time the EU Trade Commissioner and the EU Food Commissioner arrive in India, "we will be quite set to try and conclude the agreement substantially". 

His remarks come at a time when India and the EU are hopeful of arriving at agreeable terms for a potential FTA. 

Both sides have already engaged in several rounds of discussions on key areas. 

Earlier this month, a 13th round of negotiations commenced in the national capital, with discussions on a host of issues such as non-tariff barriers, market access and agricultural duties. Both sides are hopeful of framing a pact by the end of the year. 

Nearly half of some two dozen negotiation chapters have been reportedly closed, including intellectual property rights, customs and trade facilitation, digital trade and dispute settlement.