India gains edge in EU trade pact, says US trade chief Jamieson Greer

What happened:
The United States’ top trade official has said that India is set to emerge as the biggest winner from the newly finalised India–European Union free trade agreement, which he believes tilts clearly in New Delhi’s favour.

What the US said:
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaking to Fox Business, said he had reviewed key elements of the deal and concluded that India would “come out on top”.

“I’ve looked at some of the details of the deal so far. I think India comes out on top on this, frankly. They get more market access into Europe,” Greer said.

He also suggested that the agreement could include enhanced mobility for Indian workers in Europe.
“It sounds like they have some additional immigration rights. I don’t know for sure, but President von der Leyen has talked about mobility for Indian workers into Europe. On net, India is going to have a heyday with this,” he added.

Why it matters now:
India and the EU on Tuesday sealed what officials have described as the “mother of all trade deals”, creating a combined market of nearly two billion people. The agreement is expected to eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the EU and reduce duties on more than 97% of EU exports to India, covering almost a quarter of global GDP.

US perspective on EU strategy:
Greer downplayed the geopolitical significance of the deal, arguing that shifting global trade dynamics have pushed the EU to look beyond the United States.

“Because President Trump has prioritised domestic production and started charging a fee for other countries to access our market, these countries are trying to find other outlets for their overproduction. And so the EU is turning to India,” he said, describing the bloc as “highly trade dependent”.

What to watch next:
With the trade pact now signed, attention will turn to implementation timelines, sector-specific benefits, and whether mobility provisions for Indian professionals in Europe are formally included in the final framework.