U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer. File
| Picture Credit score: The Hhindu
India got here out on “high” within the commerce take care of the European Union and goes to have a heyday with this, U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer mentioned within the first response from the Trump administration on the Free Commerce Settlement (FTA).
Mr. Greer was responding to a query on the commerce settlement, billed because the “mom of all offers”, sealed between India and the EU on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
“I’ve checked out among the particulars of the deal thus far. I feel India comes out on high on this, frankly. They get extra market entry into Europe,” Mr. Greer mentioned in an interview with Fox Enterprise on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
“It seems like they (India) have some further immigration rights. I do not know for positive, however President (Ursula) von der Leyen of the EU has talked about mobility for Indian staff into Europe. So I feel on internet, India goes to have a heyday with this. They’ve low-cost labour,” Mr. Greer added.
He mentioned that it seems just like the EU is doubling down on globalisation when the U.S. is making an attempt to “repair among the issues of globalisation right here within the US.” When requested if he has any impressions on the India-EU commerce deal, Mr. Greer mentioned that it is vital to grasp that, as a result of President Trump has prioritised home manufacturing and basically began charging a charge for different international locations to entry the U.S. market, these international locations are looking for different retailers for his or her overproduction.
“So the EU is popping to India to attempt to discover a place. The EU is so commerce dependent, they want different retailers if they can not hold sending all their stuff to america,” he added. Responding to a query on the 25% tariff on India for Russian oil purchases, Mr. Greer mentioned Delhi nonetheless pays these levies, on high of the 25% reciprocal tariff that the Trump administration imposed on the nation.
When requested if India remains to be shopping for Russian oil, Mr. Greer mentioned, “They’ve made numerous progress on this. I am in frequent contact with my counterpart in India. I’ve a terrific working relationship with him, however they nonetheless have a method to go on this level. They just like the low cost that you simply get from Russian oil; it is shut by, so it is laborious for them.” He mentioned that the U.S. Treasury Division had put into place extra important sanctions a couple of weeks in the past, including that the U.S. count on India “to proceed to wind that down, however we’re watching it intently.” The deal is about to create a market of two billion folks, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the highest EU management unveiling a transformative five-year agenda to largely leverage commerce and defence in defending the rules-based world order.
The 2 sides additionally inked two essential pacts — one on safety and defence collaboration and one other on mobility of Indian skills to Europe — after Prime Minister Modi hosted von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa for summit talks amid frosty ties with the U.S..
The free commerce settlement that can account for nearly 1 / 4 of the worldwide GDP will scale back tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the EU and minimize duties on over 97% of the EU’s exports to India, in accordance with officers.
Indian sectors corresponding to textiles, attire, leather-based items, handicrafts, footwear and marine merchandise are set to realize from the FTA, whereas Europe is about to learn in areas of wine, vehicles, chemical compounds and prescribed drugs, amongst others.
Printed – January 28, 2026 12:00 pm IST









