New Delhi, May 2 -- Resolving non-tariff barriers faced by businesses is a critical component of the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union, according to an official statement released on Friday.

This position was articulated during discussions between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic in Brussels.

During the meeting, both parties reiterated their commitment to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025.

The Commerce Ministry statement highlighted India's position that "meaningful progress in trade negotiations requires an equal focus on Non-tariff Barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff discussion...