India, Sept. 12 -- When economic warfare and weaponisation of trade are in vogue, what is the recourse for affected players? The commonsense strategy is to diversify and reduce overdependence on any one partner to offset vulnerabilities. Fresh rounds of proactive economic diplomacy between the European Union (EU) and India for speeding up the conclusion of the long-delayed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) can be understood in this context.

Given the market turmoil and unpredictability unleashed by the trade wars of the United States (US), Brussels and New Delhi are jogging with renewed determination to deepen their economic integration for stable, steady and mutually beneficial gains. Studies estimate that the EU-India FTA could raise India's ...