India is actively engaged with the United States and the European Union to conclude trade agreements, with discussions underway to address outstanding issues, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Responding to queries during the weekly media briefing on the India-US bilateral trade agreement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both sides remain engaged with the objective of finalising a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.
“Both governments continue to remain engaged with a view to concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement,” Jaiswal said.
He said the US Deputy Trade Representative recently visited India. A US delegation led by Rick Switzer was in the country from December 9 to 11, marking his first visit to India in his new role.
During the visit, Switzer held meetings with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, and other senior officials to discuss trade-related issues.
On negotiations with the European Union, Jaiswal said talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are progressing. He said the 14th round of negotiations was held in Brussels in October, followed by further engagements, including visits by negotiating teams.
“The teams have remained in touch to discuss outstanding issues, and both sides are engaged in taking these discussions forward,” he said.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had earlier said India and the EU are narrowing differences through sustained engagement, with more physical and virtual meetings planned.
India has also recently concluded a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, one of the fastest concluded FTAs by the country. The agreement is expected to enhance market access and tariff preferences for Indian exports, while also serving as a gateway to the broader Oceania and Pacific Island markets.
-ANI
