India-EU FTA: Why the 15 April ministerial meeting is crucial

There is only a narrow window for opportunity for the controversial India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the crucial ministerial level meeting on 15 April will determine the status of the agreement, reported CNBC TV18.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma will meet EU trade commissioner on 15 April at Brussels. This meeting is a clincher because a failure of it means that the FTA prospects will be in jeopardy, as India will not be keen on negotiations if general elections are imminent. Additionally, EU FTA may figure in talks between PM Singh & Angela Merkel when the PM will visit Germany for bilateral on 11 April.

[caption id=“attachment_677625” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India-EU negotiators met in Brussels on 22 and 23 March where EU expressed interest in greater market access in auto and wine and spirits sector. PTI[/caption]

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India-EU negotiators met in Brussels on 22 and 23 March where EU expressed interest in greater market access in auto and wine and spirits sector. India yet to get final word on service sector market access from EU

Earlier Firstspost had argued that the country hasn’t taken into account the red flags raised by citizens’ groups and development specialists.

It’s not just some irrational fear based on any ideology, but a real danger that emanates from conditions that India is willing to agree with the EU. These conditions will seriously compromise the interests of its people at no obvious gain in trade or economic expansion. It will also have tremendous impact on India’d development sector, including food security and access to treatment.