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India, EU push to advance trade pact talks: Goyal
Minister Piyush Goyal reviewed progress on the India-EU FTA at WTO talks in Cameroon.
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IANS - Sun, 29, Mar 2026
- 00:57 EDT
- 14
Minister Piyush Goyal met European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. / IANS
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cameroon, reviewing progress on the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement.
The leaders discussed key priorities under the WTO meeting agenda and assessed ongoing work toward finalizing the India-EU FTA, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in January 2026 in New Delhi.
“Also discussed avenues to further deepen our bilateral economic and trade partnership,” Goyal said in a post on X.
ALSO READ: India-EU trade pact triggers alarm bells in Washington
On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal also held bilateral meetings with Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
With Oduwole, he discussed the WTO agenda and explored ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between India and Nigeria.
In talks with Vieira, both sides exchanged views on WTO priorities and discussed expanding bilateral trade ties, including the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement.
At the WTO meeting, India took a firm position on the proposed Investment Facilitation for Development agreement, declining to support its incorporation into the WTO framework as an Annex 4 agreement.
“Incorporation of the IFD agreement risks eroding the functional limits of the WTO and undermining its foundational principles,” Goyal said.
As part of broader WTO reform discussions, member countries are considering legal safeguards and guardrails for plurilateral agreements before integrating them into the organization’s framework.
Goyal said India remains open to “good faith, comprehensive discussions and constructive engagement” under the WTO reform agenda.
During his visit, the minister also met members of the Indian diaspora in Cameroon, highlighting their role in strengthening bilateral ties.
“Delighted to address the Indian Community Reception in Cameroon and highlight the immense potential to further deepen our bilateral relations,” he said.
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