The European Union has decided to push the completion of a free trade agreement with India from December 31, 2025 to January 31, 2026. This adjustment was confirmed by EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.
Earlier this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to finalize the agreement by December 31, 2024. However, both leaders acknowledged during their February meeting that significant obstacles would prevent achieving the deadline.
Sefcovic noted that disputes over intellectual property rights, information technology security, and market access for specific goods have repeatedly hindered negotiations. The EU and India began discussions in 2007 but suspended talks in 2013 due to similar disagreements. Negotiations resumed in 2022.
Additionally, a dispute regarding the trademark rights for the term “Basmati” has further complicated efforts. India submitted an application for exclusive use of the name in the EU market in 2018, and Pakistan filed a comparable request in 2023.
