19 Jan 2026
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Summit.
India and the European Union may sign the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA), during the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27th if pending issues are resolved.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal calls it the “mother of all deals”. India has pursued the pact for two decades. Climate-linked border taxes, services mobility, and non-tariff barriers could become the highlight of the agreement, or an uneven bargain.
Negotiations, stalled for years over issues like tariffs, intellectual property, wine and spirits, automobiles, data rules, public procurement, labour standards, and market access. It regained momentum after 2020 amid pandemic‑driven supply‑chain disruptions and geopolitical shifts.
The EU seeks lower Indian tariffs on automobiles, alcohol, and medical devices, while India aims to protect sensitive sectors such as agriculture and steel.
India expects stronger access for its textiles, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and services. The agreement could also boost investment, diversify trade dependencies, and strengthen supply‑chain resilience.
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