India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels from January 8 for a two-day official engagement, highlighting the growing intensity of India-European Union (EU) diplomatic and technical exchanges and signalling a decisive push to conclude the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The visit is expected to include high-level meetings with European Commission leaders to take stock of progress and resolve outstanding issues in the negotiations.

The talks come at a pivotal moment in India-EU economic relations. After remaining stalled for over nine years, FTA negotiations were re-launched in June 2022, marking renewed political will on both sides to deepen economic integration. Since then, 14 rounds of negotiations and several ministerial-level dialogues—most recently in December 2025—have been held, reflecting sustained efforts to finalise a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade pact.

The European Union is currently India’s largest trading partner and a key investor, with bilateral trade in goods significantly bolstered in the 2024-25 fiscal. This agreement is envisioned not just as a trade deal, but as a comprehensive partnership that addresses modern economic realities.

India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels from January 8 to advance India-EU FTA talks, reflecting intensified engagement to conclude the long-pending agreement.
Re-launched in June 2022 after a nine-year pause, negotiations have seen 14 rounds and multiple ministerial dialogues.
Goyal will hold high-level talks with EU trade leaders to resolve key issues.

During the visit, Goyal will hold high-level dialogues with the European Union’s commissioner for trade and economic security, Maros Sefcovic. The primary objective of these interactions is to provide strategic guidance to the negotiating teams, resolve pending issues, and expedite the conclusion of a balanced and ambitious agreement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.

The leaders are expected to carry out detailed deliberations across key areas of the proposed agreement, aiming to narrow divergences and ensure clarity on outstanding matters. The ministerial engagement follows a week of intensive deliberations in Brussels, building upon the groundwork laid during high-level discussions held earlier this week between India’s commerce secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, and the director-general for trade of the European Commission, Sabine Weyand.

A central pillar of India’s negotiation strategy, guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is to secure an agreement that translates into tangible benefits for the common man. India is pushing for zero-duty access for its labour-intensive sectors—such as textiles, leather, apparel, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts.

Both India and the EU have expressed strong political resolve to deliver a comprehensive deal. The upcoming talks are expected to reaffirm the commitment of both sides to a rules-based trading framework and a modern economic partnership that safeguards the interests of farmers and MSMEs while integrating Indian industries into global supply chains.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)

Luxury auction firm Christie’s has promoted Kimberly Miller to the role of global managing director for luxury.

Miller succeeds Emmanuel Danan, who left the company last year.

A luxury veteran, the newly appointed global director previously served as regional managing director for luxury Americas, where she led business strategy, sales expansion, and financial performance across the jewelry, watches, wine, and handbags departments.

Her leadership played a crucial role in the integration of Gooding as part of Christie’s acquisition and oversaw the relaunch of wine auctions in New York with The Cellar of William I. Koch last year.

Prior to joining luxury at Christie’s, Kimberly held management roles in 20th century design, after beginning her career in the wine department at Christie’s in 2010.

In her new role, Miller will continue to be based in New York and will oversee all aspects of the firm’s luxury business across both live and online auctions and private sales, and will work across the specialist Christie’s departments in Geneva, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Paris.

The appointment comes 12 months after Christie’s named a new chief executive officer, as part of a wider shake-up in the management of the auction house.