India Seeks German Assistance in Pursuit of EU Free Trade Agreement
German Minister of State Hendrik Wadephul visited India on December 16, 2024, with a focus on strengthening bilateral trade and discussing potential free trade agreements between India and the EU.
Wadephul began his visit in Bengaluru, where he toured the Mercedes-Benz research and development facility and the Indian Institute of Science. He also visited the offices of German commercial software giant SAP.
On his second day in the Indian capital, Delhi, Wadephul held political talks with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The discussions centred around the goal of doubling the trade volume between India and Germany, which reached just under €31 billion (around $36 billion) in 2024.
The negotiations between India and the EU are facing several sticking points, including reduced import duties on cars, dairy produce, Indian commitments to stricter climate and labor standards, protection for Indian farmers, rigid environmental standards, and control over potential legal disputes.
Wadephul's visit also included cultural and business appointments. He engaged in sporting diplomacy at a prestigious school in Delhi, playing field hockey with German and Indian players.
In the realm of politics, Wadephul's visit was not without controversy. Green party co-chairman Felix Banaszak challenged Wadephul to address the issue of Afghans sheltering in Pakistan and urged him to visit the country. This call came amidst news of individuals being detained or sent back to Afghanistan, putting increased pressure on Berlin to act.
In response, Wadephul stated that teamwork is essential in politics and that opportunities were presenting themselves for a potential free trade deal between India and the EU. He also revealed that he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart about the issue and received assurances that Pakistan would be willing to take people back from Afghanistan, on the condition they would eventually move on to Germany.
Meanwhile, the EU has issued fresh sanctions against India for its continued status as a core consumer of Russian oil amid the invasion of Ukraine. The current German government is also delaying the process of offering asylum to Afghans who had assisted German troops or NGOs.
As Wadephul's visit to India concludes, the future of India-Germany relations and the fate of Afghans seeking refuge in Europe remain uncertain.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Central Taiwan Discourse: Disputed Native History Claims by PRC
- Jaipur's Amer Fort experiences a 200-foot section collapse during heavy rainfall, but fortunately, no casualties are reported.
- School mandates for vaccinations in Florida are being terminated, opening a question about whether other states will adopt a similar approach.
