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Agriculture \most troublesome\ area in India-EU free trade talks, German minister says

Agriculture is the the majority of. bothersome area in talks to protect an open market deal in between. India and the European Union, German Economy Minister Robert. Habeck stated on Thursday, suggesting that it would be better to. concentrate on the industrial sector initially.

Habeck

is in India

for a local organization conference and belongs to a. top-level delegation that aims to build much better trade and. organization relations between two of the world's biggest economies.

Farming is a troublesome location as there is a huge. variation in the number of individuals working in the farm sector in. India and Germany, he informed press reporters, adding that it was 2% of. the population in Germany compared to about 60% in India.

So you can't compare the 2 agricultural systems. If. you were to open the marketplaces totally ... the disruption to. the Indian market will be significant, Habeck stated.

It would be quicker, smoother and practical to concentrate on the. commercial sector rather, he said.

Although this is not in line with what the EU usually. does, a faster way may be the way forward as clubbing. agriculture, services and industry was making it difficult,. Habeck included.

India and the EU agreed in 2022 to relaunch talks on a complimentary. trade agreement, initially aiming to complete talks by the end. of 2023, but have stopped working to make substantial progress on a deal,. with India blaming unreasonable requirements set by the EU as one. of the reasons.

The see of the delegation comes at a delicate time for. Germany, whose export-oriented economy faces a 2nd year of. contraction and concerns over a trade disagreement between the. European Union and China that might rebound on German business.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is travelling with most of. his cabinet, will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra. Modi on Friday before commanding the seventh round of. Indian-German federal government assessments.

Throughout his last check out to India in Feb. 2023, Scholz said. that he and Modi were

committed to sealing an open market offer

between India and the EU.

(source: Reuters)