India and the European Union (EU) are likely to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on January 27, 2026, Indian government officials said on Monday, January 19.
Officials said that the free trade agreement between India and the EU is scheduled to be signed on January 27 at the 16th summit between the two trading partners.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonia Costa will be in New Delhi on January 25-27 and will attend the signing of the trade agreement, officials said.
Cyprus, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, may also be part of the delegation that will witness the signing of the FTA.
The two sides may hold another round of talks before the EU leaders' visit, Indian Commerce Ministry Secretary Rajesh Agarwals said, adding that negotiators were rushing to "close" the remaining chapters of the agreement.
He said that 20 of the 24 chapters had been closed and that trade in goods, especially in agriculture, and other issues related to sustainable practices such as the Carbon Boundary Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) remained.
"We have already been at the last and most difficult stage of negotiations with the EU over the past three months. We have closed 20 of the 24 chapters. There are still a few questions, and negotiations are continuing virtually. We also plan to meet," he said.
Another official provided
