- The Centre for Trade and Investment Law and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) jointly organised a conference titled “Next-Gen Trade Pacts: Leveraging India’s Partnership with Europe under FTAs” at FICCI Federation House in New Delhi.
- The conference brought together policymakers, trade experts, industry leaders, legal professionals, and academics to discuss India’s evolving trade relationships with European nations through emerging free trade agreements (FTAs).
FICCI Highlights Need for Stronger Compliance Ecosystem
- Opening the conference, Anant Swarup highlighted the growing importance of India’s trade partnerships with Europe and stressed the need for businesses to prepare for changing global trade standards.
- Harish Ahuja emphasised the importance of strengthening India’s standards and compliance infrastructure. He called for improved testing and certification systems, better digital compliance tools, and stronger institutional mechanisms to tackle non-tariff barriers in European markets.
Focus on Market Access and Regulatory Challenges
The conference featured four thematic sessions covering:
- Opportunities from India’s trade agreements with Europe
- Standards and regulatory compliance in European markets
- Services trade and digital economy cooperation
- Impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on Indian industry
Participants discussed ways to improve market access, strengthen export competitiveness, and address sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures along with technical barriers to trade (TBT).
Discussion on CBAM and Carbon Trade Measures
- A major focus area during the conference was the European Union’s proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which could affect exports from carbon-intensive industries.
- Experts examined how Indian industries can adapt to emerging carbon-related trade regulations and maintain competitiveness in European markets.
CTIL Experts Present Research and Trade Insights
The conference also included presentations by CTIL experts on:
- Leveraging India’s FTAs with the UK, EU, and EFTA
- SPS and TBT barriers under new trade agreements
- Services trade and digital economy opportunities
- CBAM-related challenges for Indian exporters
- The role of CTIL’s Trade Remedies Advisory Cell