India, EU push to seal trade deal before PM Modi's December Brussels trip

India and the European Union are accelerating negotiations to complete their long-pending free trade agreement, with officials targeting the signing ceremony to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Brussels visit around December 17 or 18, sources familiar with the matter said.

The timing would allow Modi to formalise the landmark accord during a stopover in Brussels while returning from an anticipated Group of Twenty summit in the United States, providing both sides with a high-profile platform to unveil the agreement.

The proposed FTA between India and the 27-member EU bloc seeks to substantially liberalise trade in goods and services, address investment barriers, and establish frameworks for intellectual property and public procurement. Negotiators have been working to narrow differences on agricultural tariffs, intellectual property rules, and geographical indications.

The December deadline represents a significant push by both sides to conclude what has been a protracted negotiation spanning several years. Successfully signing the agreement would mark a major milestone in India-EU strategic relations and underscore New Delhi's deepening engagement with Europe amid shifting global trade dynamics.

Modified timelines and high-level political backing from both governments have injected fresh momentum into the talks, with diplomatic channels working to resolve outstanding issues ahead of the target date.