EU submits India trade deal for final council approval

The European Commission has submitted the EU-India Free Trade Agreement to the EU Council for final approval, marking a critical step toward concluding what would be the largest trade deal in the bloc's history. The proposal, announced on September 11, 2026, seeks authorization to sign and conclude the pact, which would eliminate or reduce tariffs on approximately 96% of EU goods exports to India. The Commission estimates the agreement would save European exporters around 4 billion euros annually in duties. The deal is designed to improve market access, remove trade barriers, and establish more predictable rules for commerce and investment between the two economic powers. The EU and India currently trade more than 180 billion euros in goods and services each year, supporting nearly 800,000 jobs in the European Union. "Timing matters, which is why we are now following through by submitting our proposals to the Council for signature and conclusion in record time," said Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.