Modi to sign EU trade deal in Brussels

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Brussels in December to sign a trade agreement between India and the European Union, as confirmed by European Council President Antonio Costa during an event in Montreal.

Agreement finalized after 20 years

The trade deal was concluded in January after two decades of negotiations but still requires formal signing. A European source suggested that Modi's visit will take place just before the European Council meeting on December 17.

EU calls it the largest free trade deal

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen had previously called an India-EU free trade agreement the largest of its kind in the world during a visit to New Delhi in February 2025.

Tariffs to be cut on most goods

According to negotiations, tariffs will be eliminated or reduced on more than 90% of goods exported by the EU to India, and similarly in the reverse direction. The EU hopes to double its exports to India, potentially reaching that goal by 2032.

Trade agreement opens new markets

A senior European Commission official described the agreement as the highest mountain we have ever climbed in trade negotiations, noting it would open previously closed markets for European wines and the automotive industry.

Bilateral trade grows rapidly

Bilateral goods trade between the EU and India reached 120 billion euros in 2024, a nearly 90% increase over the last decade, with an additional 60 billion euros in services trade.

Agriculture remains a sensitive issue

A key obstacle for India was protecting its agriculture sector, particularly dairy and cereal industries. With hundreds of millions of farmers forming a critical electoral bloc, reforms in this area are highly sensitive to the Indian government.