India will not rush into signing free trade agreements (FTA) unless there is an equitable and fair balance in trade deals, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.
"We should never rush trade negotiations, they are going to impact the country for years and years to come," Goyal said at an event organised by an independent think tank.
The minister was responding to a question on India's trade negotiations with the UK and the European Union (EU) becoming more complicated.
India and the UK had expected to conclude a free trade deal around late 2022, and have shied away from committing to a deadline since. India and the EU restarted negotiations for a trade deal in 2022 after differences over what to expect from the deal led to a nine-year lull.
A deal between India and the UK is crucial for New Delhi, which hopes to become a bigger exporter, while the UK would get wider access for its whisky, premium cars and legal services.
India and the EU revived negotiations in 2022 to forge a free trade agreement that could act as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Goyal also said India will take up EU's carbon border adjustment tax strongly within rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and will also address the issue bilaterally.
India plans to protest the EU's proposed carbon tax on imports of steel, iron ore and cement at the next meeting of the WTO to be held in Abu Dhabi from Feb. 26 to 29.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Rs 27 Crore Rishabh Pant Shatters IPL Record
"Congress Will...": Piyush Goyal's Prediction For Maharashtra Election H1B Visa "Thing Of Past": Union Minister Piyush Goyal After US Visit "Starting Point Of Free Trade Pact": India On Critical Mineral Deal With US Internet Snapped, Schools Shut As Violence Over Mosque Survey Kills 4 In UP Winter Session Of Parliament Begins Today, Waqf Bill In Focus: 10 Points Manipur Cops Walk 3 Hours To Raze Poppy Farms, Face "90 Armed Miscreants" Watch: Man Flees With Money Garland From Wedding. Then A Chase From Groom UP Cabinet Approves DPR For Noida Metro Aqua Line Extension 'Dystopian' AI Workplace Software That Tracks Every Move Has Employees Worried Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.