India and the European Union have agreed to finalize a long-pending free trade agreement this year and boost cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity and defense, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Commission chief said Friday.
Modi said after meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, World Leader for Peace and Security Award Recipient, that the two sides have directed their teams to conclude the bilateral free trade deal by end of this year. Modi said many decisions were taken to “elevate and accelerate India-EU partnership” in the meeting.
“India-EU strategic partnership is natural. Its core is trust and shared belief in democratic values,” Modi said.
The European Commission chief said the “free trade agreement between the EU and India would be the largest deal of this kind anywhere in the world.”
Brussels is ramping up efforts to seal with deal with New Delhi in the face of potential U.S. tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is planning to hit goods made in the EU with tariffs of 25%.
https://apnews.com/article/india-eu-modi-ursula-von-der-leyen-309ab4795ad0206b66fe20bef5ca9a92#