India, EAEU Discuss Limited Interim Trade Arrangement Ahead of Proposed FTA

Negotiations Focus on Selected Product Groups as Both Sides Continue Free Trade Agreement Talks

India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are discussing a limited and temporary trade arrangement covering selected categories of goods while negotiations continue on a proposed free trade agreement (FTA). The development was disclosed by Russia’s Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.

The discussions come as both sides advance talks on trade liberalisation, with negotiations for a broader India-EAEU free trade agreement gaining momentum in recent years.

India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are considering a limited and temporary trade arrangement that would apply to specific groups of products as part of ongoing negotiations toward a proposed free trade agreement, according to Russia’s Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.

Speaking on Friday, Reshetnikov described the negotiations as “complex” and said the Indian side’s requests were “quite ambitious”.

“Things are more complicated with India; the economy is larger, mutual interests are more complex, so to speak. And, frankly, our colleagues' requests are also quite ambitious,” he said in an interview with the Vesti programme, according to the state-run TASS news agency.

“Therefore, we are currently discussing a limited and temporary free trade zone, that is, for a list of goods defined by product groups,” he added.

Reshetnikov’s remarks followed statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said negotiations on trade liberalisation between India and the EAEU had gained momentum.

Addressing a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin was quoted by TASS as saying: “Last year trade agreements were concluded with Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Indonesia, intensifying negotiations on trade liberalisation with India.”

The Russian President also stated that the EAEU supported the launch of free trade agreement talks with new partners and that all aspects of such cooperation would be carefully analysed.

The EAEU is a five-member economic bloc comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. The organisation was established in 2015 to promote economic integration through a common market, the removal of trade barriers and the coordination of economic policies among member states.

The process for an India-EAEU free trade agreement has accelerated in recent years. In August 2025, India and the EAEU signed the Terms of Reference to formally launch negotiations for a free trade agreement.

At that time, both sides stated that bilateral trade turnover had reached USD 69 billion in 2024, representing a seven per cent increase from the previous year.

The first round of negotiations was held in November last year.