Piyush Goyal champions India-EU trade ties and climate accountability in Berlin

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has concluded a series of high-level economic engagements in Berlin, positioning India as a primary driver of global growth while pressing for progress on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

Leading a delegation of around 100 Indian businesses and startups, Goyal met German leaders to deepen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership across trade, technology, and advanced manufacturing. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, he stressed that international trade partnerships must be built on trust, resilient supply chains, and economic strengths that complement each other.

Climate commitments and European carbon tariffs

During a panel discussion titled "New Era, New Alliances: The Third Path?", Goyal challenged Europe on its environmental track record. He pointed out that while India accounts for 17% of the world's population, its historical contribution to global carbon emissions is under 3%. By contrast, European per capita emissions remain seven to eight times higher than India's.

Goyal recalled the 2015 COP21 climate summit in Paris, where developed nations pledged $100 billion annually to help developing countries transition to clean energy. Eleven years on, he said, developed nations have failed to deliver on those financial promises despite having driven the majority of historical industrial emissions.

He also cautioned European policymakers against trade barriers like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and high import tariffs on steel, warning that such measures will raise living costs for European consumers and undermine the competitiveness of local industry.

Strengthening industrial ties and attracting scientific talent

During his visit, Goyal held bilateral discussions with German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, focusing on translating the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement into practical industrial investment. The two ministers jointly inaugurated the new India Centre at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) to advance strategic policy research.

Goyal also co-chaired an India-Germany Business Roundtable alongside DGAP and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business, meeting top executives including Bayer AG Board Member Stefan Oelrich, Knauf Group Managing Partner Murat Akyildiz, and Fresenius SE CEO Michael Sen. Separately, Goyal met Levin Holle, Economic Policy Advisor to the German Federal Chancellor, to discuss bilateral economic strategy ahead of major international summits.

In a meeting with Indian science and technology researchers and students in Berlin, Goyal outlined plans to build a stronger domestic research ecosystem to attract Indian talent home in support of the Viksit Bharat vision. He pledged government support to provide platforms at international trade fairs for Indian researchers and startups to showcase their innovations.