Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday described the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the “mother of all deals”, signalling strong confidence that the long-pending trade pact will be a major milestone in India’s global trade strategy.
Speaking to reporters, Goyal said the agreement with the 27-nation European Union will be mutually beneficial and a “super deal” for Indian exporters, particularly in sectors where India has competitive strength. He highlighted that the bilateral trade relationship is reasonably balanced in both goods and services, and that both sides stand to gain from deeper market access.
The commerce minister noted that India has successfully concluded seven FTAs since 2014—with Australia, the UAE, the UK, New Zealand, Oman, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and Mauritius—and expects the EU pact to surpass them in scale and impact.
Officials say the negotiations are in the final stages, with remaining issues being ironed out ahead of a potential announcement later this month, possibly around Republic Day celebrations when EU leaders are slated to visit New Delhi.
Analysts and government sources suggest the deal could open significant opportunities for India’s labour-intensive and goods export sectors, while enhancing investment, services cooperation, and regulatory alignment between India and Europe.
The pact also comes at a time when global trade dynamics are shifting, and India is seeking diversified markets amid heightened tariff measures elsewhere and ongoing talks with partners like the United States.
Officials are aiming for a formal conclusion of the agreement later this month, with top EU leaders expected to travel to India for the India-EU Summit from January 25–27, potentially marking one of the biggest trade milestones in India’s recent economic diplomacy.
