India-EU FTA Prospects Brighten As Prickly Issues Can Be “Got Around”

NEW DELHI: India-EU trade, currently at around $135 billion, could see a major boost if negotiators are able to wrap up talks on a free trade area by early next year. The word is discussions are going well and Stratnews Global learns from official and non-official sources that even prickly issues like labour, environment standards and human rights “can be got around”. As for wines and spirits, where the EU has always pressed India for lower duties, there seems a more relaxed view in Delhi about their import. The argument is these could figure at the higher or premium end of the market and the impact on India’s own liquor industry could be minimal. But it’s not clear if this view extends to the import of European dairy products or for that matter automobiles....Read More