The Debate The mother of all deals? EU and India sign trade deal two decades in the making
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Jan 27, 2026 
André Luskrung-Pietri, strategic and economic commentator warning about timing and competitiveness. Kumar Ananda, business leader highlighting commercial opportunities and practical impacts. Chikuridan Viramani, development economist on India’s comparative advantages. Sandro Gozzi, MEP focusing on trade, geopolitics and Indo-Pacific strategy. They discuss the EU–India trade deal, risks, sectoral wins, geopolitical framing and business implications.
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Trade Opening And De‑Risking Strategy
- The EU-India trade deal will slash tariffs and open markets, notably lowering India's car tariffs from up to 110% down to 10% over time.
- The agreement is part of Europe's de-risking strategy to diversify away from dependence on China and US trade volatility.
Beyond Trade: A Strategic Partnership
- Sandro Gozi framed the agreement as a strategic partnership beyond trade, covering security, defence, AI and education exchange.
- He argued the deal responds to current global challenges and accelerates existing EU-India cooperation.
Complementary Trade Patterns
- Chikuridan Viramani highlighted strong complementarity: India exports labour-intensive goods while the EU supplies high-tech and capital goods.
- He saw mobility of Indian professionals as a key resource to address EU skill shortages.