External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the press after the third India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting and shared the update on the social media platform X alongside the Indian and European Union flags. The remarks come at a moment when trade ties between India and the European Union are already drawing heavy attention.
What the Trade and Technology Council does
The India-EU Trade and Technology Council is a forum that gives both sides a recurring channel to discuss trade and technology issues. That this was already the third such meeting, and that it was followed by a press interaction, signals that the cooperation has moved beyond formal closed-door sessions into regular public updates.
The trade deal behind the moment
According to news reports, India and the European Union recently finalised a sweeping trade agreement that has been described in several reports as the biggest of its kind so far. Ahead of that agreement, European Union Vice President Kaja Kallas had travelled to Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the deal would directly benefit India's farmers and fishermen. The agreement follows years of negotiations, and Jaishankar had earlier said that India wanted a decisive conclusion to the free trade talks with the European Union.
Questions raised at home
The trade agreement has also drawn scrutiny within India. Congress flagged concerns amid the celebrations over the deal, pointing out that the European Union will impose a carbon tax on steel and aluminium exported from India, which could affect Indian industry.
The Trump factor
Soon after the India-EU deal, United States President Donald Trump signed his own separate trade deal with India, a move seen as an attempt to avoid being outdone by Europe. This followed India rejecting a claim by American official Lutnick that India-US trade talks were stalled, with India pointing out that Prime Minister Modi and Donald Trump had spoken eight times through 2025.
What the EU has said
The European Union's trade chief has said the United States has given assurances that it will honour its trade deal. The statement appears aimed at calming any uncertainty surrounding both the India-US and India-EU agreements.
Public reaction
Reactions to Jaishankar's post were mixed. Several people welcomed the India-EU partnership as a boost for trade, technology and opportunities for young people, while others responded with lighter, more casual comments. A few users also used the moment to raise unrelated concerns about domestic economic policy and visa rules.
