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  1. Negotiations

EU-India


The European Union and India launched negotiations on a bilateral free trade and investment agreement in June 2007. However, between the governments, a number of controversies have been plaguing the talks. Delhi wants Brussels to relax its stringent food safety criteria which penalise Indian farm and fishery exports and to make it easier for Indian professionals to work in the EU. Europe is primarily out to win major openings of India’s services sector and broad liberalisation of foreign investment, while India does not want to discuss allowing European firms to compete in India’s government procurement market.

Indian social movements, including fisherfolk and labour unions, people living with HIV/AIDS and other health activists have been mobilizing against the FTA. International actions and campaigns have particularly targeted the proposed intellectual property provisions of the agreement, and the impact of the FTA on access to medicines.

last update: May 2012
Photo: MSF

A deal still on the drawing board
5-Jul-2011    
The India-EU free trade agreement is yet to see daylight. Labour and environmental issues may derail it, writes Biswajit Dhar
India rejects clause on litigation
4-Jul-2011    
Despite a demand by the European Union (EU), India is unlikely to allow a clause in a proposed trade pact with the bloc that permits an overseas investor to sue a host country at an international dispute settlement agency.
Indian industry has its fears on FTAs with European nations
28-Jun-2011    
The India government is planning Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with European countries. However, Indian industry is anxious as Europeans are sensitive to issues which are considered extraneous to trade in this part of the world.
Auto industry worried about duty cuts in FTA with EU
26-Jun-2011    
Amid speculations of India giving in to EU's demand on lowering duty on imported cars in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), the auto industry has cautioned that if such a concession was granted, future investments in the sector in the country will be hit.
India won't consider EU's demand on duty-free wheat import
26-Jun-2011    
To protect farmers' interests, India has made it clear to EU that duty-free imports of wheat, barley, lemons, apples, pears and meslin flour will not be allowed under the proposed free trade agreement.
India says ‘no’ to policy that would block access to affordable medicines
23-Jun-2011     MSF
India formally announced at the UN High Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS that it will not accept data exclusivity, a provision harmful to access to affordable medicines, as part of a free trade agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union.
Toyota cries foul on import duty sop
21-Jun-2011    
The world’s largest carmaker, Toyota, has said it would be unfair to Japanese carmakers in India, who have invested more and for a longer time, if Europe-made cars get import-duty incentives under the Indo -European Union Free Trade Agreement.
EU Parliament resolution on the EU-India FTA calls for dialogue on Kashmir
20-Jun-2011    
Although the resolution has compelled India to resume talks with Pakistan, it is not clear whether and how the outcome of these talks will affect the conclusion of the FTA. It is also uncertain whether or not the condition to settle the Kashmir issue with dialogue will be included in the final draft of the EU-India FTA, writes Ahmad Ali Ghouri
India-EU free trade agreement
20-Jun-2011     CIPRA
The proposed FTA is going to have a far reaching consequence for both the Indian state as well as for the lives and livelihood of Indian masses.
Linking Kashmir to trade
15-Jun-2011    
The European Parliament has passed a resolution linking a Free Trade Agreement with India to an improvement in its human rights records, and to greater democracy.