India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said that the free trade agreement between India and the European Union is being taken forward at a very fast pace. He said this during BIOFACH 2026, the world’s major exhibition of organic products, held in Nuremberg, Germany. Aggarwal expressed confidence that this agreement can be implemented within a maximum of one year.
Positive atmosphere in India and Europe regarding the agreement
Aggarwal said that there is a positive atmosphere in both India and Europe regarding this agreement. Everyone I talked to was excited about this FTA. This agreement will open new opportunities for both the parties.
Impact not limited to business only
He clarified that its impact will not be limited to trade only, but investment between the two sides will also increase. In meetings held in Berlin with European representatives, including the German Agriculture Minister, discussions were held on how to combine the strengths of India and the EU.
Together we can create a world-class supply chain and a global chain.
Aggarwal said that Europe’s technology and India’s talent can together create a world-class supply chain and global value chain, which will serve India and Europe as well as the global market. On the timeline of the agreement, he said that usually in such agreements, processes like legal review and translation into all the languages of Europe take time. Nevertheless, both sides are working to speed up the process and aim to implement it within the next one year.
India protected its interests in the trade agreement with America
He also said important things regarding the India-America trade agreement. Aggarwal said that India has always protected sensitive sectors in trade agreements and even in the interim trade agreement with the US, key sectors like farmers, fishermen and dairy have been protected.
He pointed out that India negotiates all trade agreements with a clear vision. In the matter of providing market access to sectors which are considered extremely sensitive for the country, India has given a clear signal to its partner countries that such sectors cannot be opened up completely.
How many trade agreements signed in the last one year?
Aggarwal said that in the five trade agreements signed in the last one year, all sensitive areas have been protected. The security of key sensitive areas has also been ensured in the interim agreement with America. Where there was some degree of sensitivity, mechanisms such as tariff rate quotas (TRQ) were used to limit market access and not negatively impact domestic farmers.
He also said that both sides are working rapidly to convert the joint statement into a legal agreement. It is expected that it will be finalized and signed by the end of March.
India is participating this year in BIOFACH 2026 as ‘Country of the Year’. This is India’s first major international partnership after the conclusion of FTA negotiations on January 27. In such a situation, the pace of FTA and India’s presence on the global platform of organic products is indicating a new phase of India-EU economic partnership.
