The India-EU FTA: Implications For South Asia – OpEd

On 27 January 2026, India and the European Union announced for concluding negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), called as ‘Mother of all Agreements”. This historic pact eliminates duties on nearly 99.5% of Indian exports, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape of South Asian trade. For decades, India’s South Asian neighbors—primarily Bangladesh and Pakistan—have enjoyed a distinct "tariff advantage" over India in the EU market. Bangladesh (via LDC Duty-Free Quota-Free...