New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday underlined the importance of understanding and respecting each other's economic sensitivities to accelerate the India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA) discussions.
Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, Piyush Goyal highlighted that India would not proceed with the agreement if the EU continues to push for access to the Indian dairy market, citing the sector as a sensitive area for India.
According to reports, the minister pointed out that issues such as labour and climate change should be addressed in broader international platforms rather than in trade discussions, urging the focus to remain on trade, investment, and strategic partnerships.
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He further spoke of the complexity of balancing the interests of both sides, noting that while the EU is composed of 27 nations with varying economic priorities, India has 27 states, each with unique economic landscapes and differing needs. Illustrating this, the politician mentioned that some Indian states grow crops like apples, which could affect their openness to certain trade concessions.
Piyush Goyal, who has also served as Minister of Textiles and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution before serving as Minister of Commerce and Industry since 2019, called for channelling efforts into deepening trade and investment ties while fostering a more robust strategic partnership to advance the negotiations.
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