Free trade pact talks with EU to begin from June 17: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union will begin from June 17 at Brussels.

He said negotiations were progressing for such agreements with the United Kingdom and Canada.

"FTA negotiations with the EU will begin in Brussels on the 17th of this month," Goyal said.


India-EU FTA negotiations were stuck after 16 rounds of talks between 2007 and 2013. While the EU insisted on duty concessions on automobiles, alcoholic beverages and dairy products, India's demands included greater access to the EU market for its skilled professionals.

MARINE EXPORTS
Goyal also said India aims to double export of marine products to ₹1 lakh crore from the present ₹50,000 crore in the next five years.

"This target will be achieved through sustainable fishing, ensuring quality and variety, promotion of coastal shipping and aquaculture, and by supporting the entire fisheries ecosystem," he said at an event organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in Kerala.

The minister also ruled out the possibility of shifting the MPEDA office from Kochi.

At a separate event on National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, he said India can become a $30 trillion economy.

He said 18 states have joined the national single window and over 25,000 compliances have been either eliminated or simplified.