New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- India and the European Union are closer to a modern trade pact than at any point in the last decade. Negotiators opened a fresh round in September and, by most accounts, are aligning on a framework similar to the recent India-UK deal in its scope and phased tariff relief. For Indian small and mid-sized exporters (SMEs), a practical India-EU agreement could help reduce reliance on a single market and enable more balanced growth across Europe.

Why the EU matters now

The EU is India's second-largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral trade ofroughly€120 billion in 2024. India, in turn, is the EU's 9th largest partner. The relationship has grown nearly 90% over the past decade, yet Indian SME participation r...