New Delhi urges clarity on EU carbon and steel rules as both sides push for a balanced, sustainable agreement

India has called for greater clarity and predictability in the enforcement of new European Union regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the proposed steel law, during the latest round of India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations held in New Delhi.

The discussions, held from 3 to 7 November, 2025, saw senior negotiators from both sides engage on key trade areas such as goods, services, investment, and sustainable development. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission, conducted a two-day stocktake to assess progress and review unresolved issues.

Both sides welcomed the progress achieved across several negotiating tracks and agreed to sustain the current momentum. The discussions helped narrow differences and established common ground on a range of issues. Officials underscored the need for continued technical-level engagement in the coming weeks to close remaining gaps and work towards an early conclusion of the India-EU FTA.

The negotiations reflect the shared commitment of both partners to deepen economic ties and conclude an ambitious, forward-looking agreement that advances resilient, sustainable, and inclusive growth.