India and the European Union advanced negotiations toward a landmark free trade agreement on January 27, 2026, aiming to eliminate tariffs on over 90% of goods and boost bilateral trade past €200 billion annually. The latest round in New Delhi resolved key sticking points like agricultural market access and digital trade rules, with both sides targeting a full deal by mid-2026 despite lingering disputes over steel quotas and data localization.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis hailed the "breakthrough" as vital for post-Brexit Europe-Asia ties, while India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stressed protections for dairy farmers and pharma patents. Business groups cheered the potential for Indian IT/services exports and EU machinery/auto gains, marking a pivot from stalled US-India talks.
