The long-anticipated EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) delivers unprecedented market access for European agricultural and processed food exporters into India, according to the European Commission’s official factsheet on agri-food exports.
The deal targets one of the most protected segments of India’s import regime. Indian average tariffs on EU agri-food products currently hover around 36%, with some duties as high as 150%. Under the new agreement, many of those barriers will be substantially cut or eliminated, opening access to India’s 1.45 billion consumers for a broad basket of European food and drink goods.
Tariff reductions for key EU products
- Wine: From 150% to 20–30% depending on segment.
- Spirits: Up to 150% duties cut to 40%.
- Beer: From 110% to 50%.
- Olive oil & other vegetable oils: Tariffs reduced to 0%.
- Processed foods (bread, pastries, pasta, chocolate, pet food): Duties phased to 0%.
- Fruit juices & non-alcoholic beer: Tariffs eliminated.
- Sheep meat: Duty-free access from 33%.
This access package is described by Brussels as “unmatched” compared with India’s existing pacts with other partners, including the UK and Australia.
The agreement excludes India’s most sensitive agricultural staples from liberalisation. Current Indian tariffs on products such as beef, sugar, rice, chicken meat, milk powder, honey, bananas, soft wheat, garlic, and ethanol remain unchanged to protect domestic producers.
To preempt market disruption, both sides have agreed to a bilateral safeguard mechanism that can be triggered if import surges directly linked to the FTA threaten local sectors.
The EU emphasises that its stringent human, animal, and plant health standards remain fully in force. Imported goods will adhere to the EU’s science-based food safety systems, and authorities will increase food safety audits and border controls where necessary.
The agri-food provisions are part of the wider FTA deal, which also cuts tariffs on industrial and manufactured goods, opens services sectors, and embeds rules on intellectual property and regulatory cooperation. The full agreement still awaits final legal review and ratification by EU member states, the European Parliament, and the Indian government before implementation.
