India, Jan 28 : India has secured significant duty concessions for a wide range of agricultural exports under its free trade agreement with the European Union, a move expected to enhance competitiveness and expand market access across the 27-member bloc, the Commerce Ministry said on Monday.
Products set to benefit include processed foods, tea, coffee, spices, table grapes, and sheep and lamb meat, along with items such as gherkins, cucumbers, sweet corn, dried onion, and select fruit and vegetable products. Preferential access is expected to strengthen India’s export presence in European markets.
The ministry said sensitive sectors including dairy, cereals, poultry, soymeal, and certain fruits and vegetables have been safeguarded, with no import duty concessions offered on these items. Dairy remains excluded from all Indian trade agreements to protect small and marginal farmers.
According to the government, the pact establishes clear product-specific rules to ensure substantial processing within India while allowing flexibility in sourcing inputs from global supply chains. These provisions are designed to support domestic manufacturing and ensure eligibility for preferential tariffs.
The agreement, expected to come into force later this year, will also simplify compliance through self-certification of origin, reducing costs and procedural delays for exporters. Special provisions have been made to support MSMEs, including fixed quotas for shrimp, prawns, and downstream aluminium products.
Under the deal, the EU will lower duties ranging from 0 to 26 per cent on select marine exports. With the EU’s marine imports valued at over Rs 4.6 lakh crore, the concessions are expected to significantly boost India’s exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added seafood, benefiting coastal communities in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala.
The agreement is also expected to create opportunities for India’s traditional medicine sector, enabling AYUSH practitioners to offer services in EU countries where regulatory frameworks are currently absent.