EU-India free trade agreement: why standards are important for international trade
Last updated:
March 8, 2026
On January 27, 2026, the European Union and India concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement. If the agreement is fully approved and enters into force, it could become one of the European Union's largest trade agreements. Together, the EU and India represent nearly two billion consumers and a significant share of the global economy.
Today, free trade agreements are not just about import duties. Technical regulations, conformity assessment, and standards also play an important role in modern trade agreements. This is clearly reflected in the chapter (below) on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) in the EU-India agreement.
For companies—including those in Belgium—this could have consequences for how products are developed, tested, and brought to international markets.
An important part of the agreement is the chapter on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). This chapter deals with technical measures that have an impact on trade in goods, such as technical regulations, conformity assessment, and standards.
Among other things, the agreement confirms the principles set out in the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. For example, technical regulations should not unnecessarily impede trade and should be prepared in a transparent manner.
In addition, the agreement encourages the use of international standards wherever possible. For companies, this can help them to better anticipate new regulations and technical requirements.
The agreement also provides for the establishment of a joint working group on conformity assessment. This working group will discuss practical issues relating to certification and testing procedures.
This can be important for companies that export. When different markets use different testing or certification procedures, this can cause additional costs and delays.
In India, for example, Quality Control Orders (QCOs) play a role. These are rules that impose mandatory certification for certain products. According to the agreement texts, the new working group must discuss such systems and address any practical bottlenecks.
In addition to the free trade agreement, the EU and India are also working together more broadly on technology, regulation, and standards.
An important platform for this is the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Through this forum, both partners discuss cooperation on digital technology, innovation, and technical regulations.
Topics related to standards and standardization are also discussed within this collaboration. Initiatives such as SESEI (Seconded European Standardization Expert in India) support this dialogue by gathering information on developments in India in the field of standards and regulations, and by bringing European and Indian stakeholders into contact with each other.
For Belgium, according to some analyses, the economic impact of the agreement appears to be positive but relatively limited.
An economic estimate by KBC suggests that Belgium could see a long-term increase of around 0.18% in added value as a result of the agreement. However, much of this effect would be indirect, via trade flows within European value chains.
After all, Belgium is strongly integrated into European production and supply chains. When other European economies export more to India, this can also have an indirect effect on Belgian companies.
Why standards are important in international trade
Standards play an important role in international trade. They often determine the technical requirements that products must meet, how they are tested, and how their quality is demonstrated.
When different countries use the same or similar standards, it is easier for companies to develop products for multiple markets. This can help reduce technical barriers to trade and facilitate international trade.
