Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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233. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position regarding the free trade agreement between the EU and India. [46483/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU and India are negotiating three agreements in parallel: a Free Trade Agreement; an Investment Protection Agreement; and an agreement on Geographical Indications. Six rounds of negotiations have taken place to date, the most recent taking place in Brussels on 16-20 October.

Before the latest round of negotiations, it was acknowledged that divergences remain between both sides and that negotiators were focused on narrowing textual differences across the chapters.

In relation to market access offers, the EU’s initial market access offer was tabled in July 2023 and excluded the most sensitive agriculture products for Ireland.

The Indian market access offer which was tabled in August, excludes some sensitive agriculture products but it includes a staged liberalisation on certain products of Fresh Chilled and Frozen Meat, Seafood, Beverages and Animal Feed. India's market access offer in relation to public procurement opportunities for EU enterprises requires further development and progress in this area is expected during negotiations.

It is hoped that the latest round of negotiations will consolidate chapter texts and will advance the market access offers made to date.