All 27 EU Nations Back India-EU FTA, Seek Early Rollout

Piyush Goyal says all 27 EU nations support early implementation of the India-EU FTA, expected in Q1 2027. The pact expands market access, cuts tariffs and strengthens opportunities across exports, services and strategic industries.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said all 27 European Union member states support the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and want to complete the remaining formalities to bring the pact into force at the earliest. He made the remarks at the India-Belgium High Level Dialogue in Mumbai, underscoring broad European backing for the agreement.

According to Goyal, the unanimous support among EU members is unusual in the European context, while stakeholders across India have also backed the agreement. He said the pact was negotiated to protect sensitive sectors on both sides and has not faced significant opposition.

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The minister has previously indicated that the FTA could become operational in the first quarter of 2027, potentially during February or March, subject to formal signing and ratification.

India and the EU concluded negotiations for the long-pending trade agreement in January 2026 after restarting talks in 2022. The agreement is designed to expand preferential market access, reduce tariff barriers and create greater predictability for businesses operating across the two markets.

The pact provides preferential access across 97 percent of EU tariff lines, covering 99.5 percent of trade value. India, meanwhile, is expected to receive immediate duty elimination on 70.4 percent of EU tariff lines covering 90.7 percent of its exports.

Labour-intensive Indian sectors, including textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, marine products and toys, are expected to gain from improved access to the European market. The agreement is also expected to strengthen opportunities for Indian exporters and service providers as companies seek to diversify international markets amid continuing global trade uncertainty.

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Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, speaking at the dialogue, described the FTA as an expression of “strategic openness” at a time of rising protectionism and trade disruptions. He said the agreement could strengthen India-EU trade and make commercial relations more predictable.

Goyal also identified five areas for deeper India-Belgium cooperation: gems and jewellery, semiconductors, green hydrogen and ports, defence and advanced manufacturing, and agriculture and food processing. He called for greater workforce mobility between the two countries, particularly in sectors experiencing talent shortages.