New Delhi, Nov. 29 -- Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Friday underscored the importance of having fair trade deals with "trusted partners" at a time when trade is being weaponised, and said India is currently in talks to have free trade agreements with 50 countries (individually or part of blocs), including the United States and the European Union (EU). Addressing captains of industry at Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) 98th annual general meeting (AGM) and convention, themed on "India: Self-Reliant Economic Powerhouse", Goyal criticised the erstwhile UPA government for missing on trade diplomacy because of its unfounded insecurity and lack of confidence in India's potential. "We could have done our FTAs with the UK and European Union and with this EFTA [European Free Trade Association] bloc 25 years ago but for the fixation in our mind that we have to protect the auto industry and wines and spirits," the minister said. "And, what were we protecting? We were protecting a mindset that was not futuristic in its thinking. That was very backward in its thinking. Competition always brings more efficiency. Always brings more choice for the consumer. It helps us look at our competitive advantages and go forward for the good of the nation." Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Atamnirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan' and 'Viksit Bharat" goal by 2047, Goyal said: "Friends, I was just thinking, how do I present the India story and why self-reliance will be at the core of the India story."...