US Reacts to India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Says New Delhi Gains More Than Europe
The United States has offered its perspective on the historic free trade agreement between India and the European Union, which was concluded on Tuesday. According to US President Donald Trump's representative, Jamieson Greer, India is poised to gain significantly more than the EU from this landmark pact.
India's 'Heyday' with Market Access and Immigration Rights
In an interview with Fox Business on Tuesday, Greer stated that he has reviewed some details of the deal and believes India comes out on top. "I think India comes out on top on this, frankly. They get more market access into Europe," he remarked. He further emphasized that India is going to have a 'heyday' with the India-EU FTA once it is implemented.
Discussing the terms of the agreement, which has been dubbed the "Mother of All Deals," Greer pointed out that it will likely grant additional immigration rights to Indians. "It sounds like they (India) have some additional immigration rights. I don't know for sure, but President (Ursula) von der Leyen of the EU has talked about mobility for Indian workers into Europe. So I think on net, India is going to have a heyday with this. They have low-cost labour," he told the news channel.
EU's Turn to India Amid Globalisation Shifts
Greer also appeared to critique the European Union, suggesting that EU nations are intensifying their focus on globalisation at a time when the US is addressing some of its associated problems. "So the EU is turning to India to try to find a place. The EU is so trade dependent, they need other outlets if they can't keep sending all their stuff to the United States," he explained. This comment highlights the shifting dynamics in international trade relationships.
Details of the India-EU FTA
On Tuesday, India and the EU signed a "milestone" deal, concluding negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. This pact is considered one of India's most strategic economic partnerships, designed as a modern, rules-based trade partnership. It aims to address contemporary global challenges while fostering deeper market integration between the world's fourth- and second-largest economies.
In addition to the trade agreement, both sides signed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership. This marks the first overarching defence and security framework between India and the EU, with leaders from both blocs agreeing to significantly deepen cooperation across strategic, regional, and global security domains.
India-US Trade Deal Progress
Meanwhile, India and the United States continue their negotiations for a bilateral trade deal, with the US currently imposing a 50% tariff on Indian exports. Greer addressed this ongoing discussion, noting that New Delhi has made "a lot of progress" on reducing its purchases of Russian oil but still has further steps to take to address US concerns.
"New Delhi has made 'a lot of progress' on Russian oil purchase but it is hard for them to completely cut out the supplies because 'they like the discount that you get from Russian oil,'" Greer stated in the interview. He added, "I am in frequent contact with my counterpart in India. I have a great working relationship with him, but they still have a ways to go on this point." This indicates that while progress is being made, key issues remain unresolved in the India-US trade negotiations.
