India, EU Textile Bodies Launch Platform To Support FTA Implementation
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) have launched a bilateral industry platform to support the effective implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the textile and apparel sector.
The EU-India Textile and Apparel Dialogue (TAD) will provide a structured forum for industry representatives from both sides to discuss reciprocal market access, resilient value chains, industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The TAD mandate was formally signed by CITI and EURATEX, while the first meeting of the joint CITI-EURATEX monitoring committee established under the framework was held at Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi.
“The establishment of the TAD assumes importance in the backdrop of India and the EU concluding negotiations on the FTA in January 2026, and the India-EU trade deal expected to be signed later this year,” said CITI Chairman Ashwin Chandran.
He added that the platform could serve as an effective mechanism for representing the textile and apparel industry’s views on how the agreement can benefit businesses in India and across the 27-member European Union.
The EU has long been a key market for India’s textile and apparel industry. It was India’s second-largest export destination for the sector in 2025, with textile and apparel exports reaching US$ 7.6 billion.
Indian exporters have historically faced a tariff disadvantage in the EU market compared with competitors from countries that enjoy preferential trade access. This situation is expected to improve once the India-EU FTA comes into effect.
