In January 2026 the EU-India Free Trade agreement, often called “the mother of all deals,” was officially concluded at the EU-India Summit in New Delhi. When it enters into force, most likely early next year, it will connect almost two billion people. This comprehensive agreement, which took 20 years to negotiate, covers goods, services, digital trade, investments, and supply chain diversification. It sends a powerful geopolitical message to the world that these two economies want to trade in a transparent, rules-based manner.
But what is actually in it? What will be the immediate effects of the deal, and why did negotiations take so long?
HOST
Cecilia Malmström
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE)
GUESTS
Darpan JainÂ
EU-India Free Trade Agreement Chief Negotiator, Department of Commerce, India
Christophe KienerÂ
Chief Negotiator for EU Free Trade Agreements with India, Australia, and ThailandÂ
Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission