India and the European Union are clearing the last procedural work on their free trade agreement ahead of a signing planned for mid-December, with officials on both sides working through the final steps in Brussels.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held talks in Brussels with European Commission officials on customs cooperation, trade facilitation and market access, according to reports on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Brussels for the signing ceremony.

Under the pact, Indian labour-intensive goods such as leather, textiles, and gems and jewellery are set to get duty-free entry into the EU. Trade between India and the EU stood at 118 billion euros last year.

European Union Ambassador to India Jean-Eric Paquet said the agreement was "around the corner" and that opportunities under it must be identified. He announced a series of visits to Indian states during November, with engagements focused on trade, technology, science and digital innovation, and on continuing the conversation around the free trade agreement.

India and the EU officially concluded negotiations on the agreement at the 16th India-EU Summit on 27 January 2026, in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement has since been undergoing legal scrubbing and verification ahead of the proposed signing, with full ratification and entry into force targeted for mid-2027.

The deal is forecast to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs on 96.6 per cent of traded goods by value, and to save European companies around 4 billion euros in duties, according to the EU.

The exact signing date has not yet been formally confirmed by the Indian side, and officials have said dates will be shared publicly once they are fixed.

[Source: blitzindiamedia.com](https://blitzindiamedia.com/news/india-53866-crore-warship-deal-eu-trade-pact-australia-defence/) | [Source: desitalkchicago.com](https://desitalkchicago.com/its-around-corner-opportunities-must-be-identified-eu-ambassador-jean-eric-paquet-on-fta/)