India, EU Aim to Finalise Early Harvest Trade Deal by July 2025
India and the European Union (EU) are working to conclude an early harvest trade deal by July 2025, as part of a two-stage approach toward a broader Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deal would mirror India’s interim agreement with Australia, covering key areas such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights, government procurement, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Indian officials to arrive in Brussels today for India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
— Filter Coffee ☕️ (@FilterCoffeeHQ) May 21, 2025
Deal expected to close by the end of 2025.
The move is aimed at accelerating trade liberalisation while larger FTA negotiations continue. India’s Chief Negotiator, Satya Srinivas, is currently in Brussels to fast-track the talks. The two sides are pursuing a comprehensive pact that also includes a bilateral investment protection agreement and recognition of geographical indications (GIs).
India-EU FTA talks move forward, with a phased deal likely. 1st phase covers agreed areas; tough issues by year-end. Target: full deal by 2025. What’s the progress, & what lies ahead?
— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) May 21, 2025
'Perspective'#IndiaEUFTA #TradeTalks #IndiaEURelations #GlobalTrade https://t.co/441LgtMG38 pic.twitter.com/32ABDrLnMH
The negotiations, which cover 23 policy areas, resumed momentum during the 11th round of FTA discussions held in New Delhi from May 12–16, covering trade in goods and services, customs cooperation, sustainable development, and regulatory standards.
A major sticking point remains intellectual property rights, particularly over the EU’s proposal to amend India’s Patents Act to allow the ‘evergreening’ of pharmaceutical patents—a move India has resisted. India has similarly rejected calls for data exclusivity from the UK and Switzerland in other trade negotiations to safeguard its generic drug industry.
In 2024, the EU imported a total of 119 900 tonnes of tea from countries outside of the EU. ☕️🍃
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) May 21, 2025
The top trade partners were:
🇨🇳 China (24 400 tonnes; 20% of total imports)
🇮🇳India: (21 900; 18%) and 🇰🇪Kenya: (21 000; 18%)
👉https://t.co/cIdfnEfRHe#InternationalTeaDay pic.twitter.com/dcWTWRPpwm
Trade data underlines the stakes: in FY2023–24, India-EU bilateral trade in goods stood at $137.41 billion, with Indian exports at $75.92 billion and imports at $61.48 billion, making the EU India’s largest trading partner. The EU accounts for 17% of India’s exports, while India makes up 9% of the EU’s external trade.
The early harvest deal, if finalised, would mark a significant step forward in one of India’s most ambitious trade negotiations, providing market access and regulatory clarity while allowing both sides to navigate more complex elements of the FTA in parallel.