India-EU to hold next round of FTA talks at Brussels in Sept.
The Hindu
Negotiators concluded first round of parleys on trade, investment on July 1
India and the European Union concluded the first round of talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) on Friday and the next round of talks is scheduled at Brussels in September, the Commerce Ministry said on Saturday.
India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations on June 17, after a gap of more than eight years, on the proposed agreements on trade, investments and geographical indications (GI). The first round of talks, which began on June 27, concluded on July 1.
India's FTA negotiations were led by chief negotiator Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce and the EU was represented by its chief negotiator Christophe Kiener, the Ministry said in a statement.
The week-long negotiations were held in a hybrid fashion – with some of the teams meeting in Delhi and the majority of officials joining virtually.
During the first round, 52 technical sessions covering 18 policy areas of FTA and seven sessions on investment protection and GIs were held, it added.
India's bilateral trade with the EU amounted to $116.36 billion in 2021-22.
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