- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested during his January 2026 trip to India that the European Union and India could sign the landmark free trade agreement by the end of January.
- Merz made the remarks in Ahmedabad after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a major step forward in the long-awaited pact.
- Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal also stated that the agreement was almost at its final stages, reinforcing the optimism from the German side.
- The deal is viewed as a crucial part of Europe's strategy to build new trade networks and diversify supply chains amid rising global protectionism and stalled US-India trade talks.
- Key sticking points in the negotiations have included disputes over steel, carbon levies, and market access, which required further compromise before the final signing.
German Chancellor Merz says EU-India trade agreement is largely negotiated and nearing conclusion
Jan 23, 2026, 3:13:05 PM UTC(11 days ago)
Impact: Medium
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From:@DeItaone
🇮🇳 GERMANY'S MERZ: EU TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA HAS LARGELY BEEN NEGOTIATED
