The negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) for a free trade agreement (FTA) are at an advanced stage, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday (September 2), while also confirming that New Delhi is exploring a bilateral trade deal with the US.

Speaking at the CII Global Sustainability Summit, the Minister said the EU’s trade delegation will be visiting India to undertake the 13th round of negotiations on September 8. In addition, the EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will be in New Delhi on September 12 to advance the talks.

Noting that India has already finalised the terms of reference for a potential FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Goyal stressed that India is always open to a fair and mutually beneficial agreement.

Government sources earlier indicated that India and the EU aim to conclude negotiations for a proposed FTA by the end of this year. According to officials, both sides were considering an early harvest agreement – similar to the one India signed with Australia – covering areas such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

India-US talks continue

Goyal reiterated that India is considering a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States. “We are in dialogue with the US for a BTA,” he said at the industry chamber event on sustainability. Negotiations began in March, and five rounds have been concluded so far.

The next round, initially scheduled for August 25, was deferred after Washington’s 50% duty on imports from India came into force on August 27, prompting the US team to delay its visit. No new dates have been set for the sixth round of discussions.

India’s relationship with China is thawing

On geopolitical issues, Goyal said relations with China were “returning to normal” as border disputes eased. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had agreed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to work toward a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” solution.

The US decision to impose punitive duties on Indian exports has nudged New Delhi closer to Beijing.

Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi focused on boosting trade and managing tensions along the Himalayan frontier, with both sides agreeing to enhance border coordination during the 33rd Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting in March 2025.

India and China have also announced the resumption of direct flights between the two countries after a five-year halt, marking a further step toward normalisation of ties.

Speaking at the Summit, Goyal also said the country’s supply chains are diversified and not dependent on any one country switching a tap “on” or “off”. Lauding the contribution of every farmer, worker and hawker to the 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year and the impending GST reforms, he urged all Indians to save at least 1 kg of food annually to collectively conserve 140 million tonnes of food and prevent wastage of water, grain, fertiliser, fuel and effort that goes into bringing food to the table.

Also Read: PM Modi-Xi Jinping meeting: India and China to resume direct flights after five-year hiatus