Rome, 27 January 2026 - The closing of the EU-India negotiations is an extremely positive sign. After almost twenty years of negotiations, the EU regains the necessary momentum to achieve a strategic result on the trade front at a particularly critical time in the international economy. It is the largest opening India has ever granted to any trading partner.

The agreement provides access to a market of almost two billion people and duty-free access to over 96% of EU exports to India, saving about EUR 4 billion annually and doubling the volume of European exports to the Indian market, as shown by EU analyses.

As with all European trade treaties, we expect full reciprocity and adequate safeguards for the most exposed sectors. Free trade agreements - as in the case of Mercosur - must be evaluated as a whole: openness and protection can coexist if accompanied by high regulatory standards and effective safeguard clauses to avoid any form of unfair competition.

It is essential for the EU to continue along this path, with an ambitious trade policy that will undoubtedly benefit competitiveness and security of supply chains. Confindustria will continue to closely follow the evolution of the agreement also in this final stage, so that all the guarantees provided, for industrial and non-industrial sectors, are fully respected. Because we believe in open, fair and rule-based international trade.