Bilateral industry platform established at Bharat Tex 202C to advance FTA implementation, market access, resilient supply chains, sustainability and responsible business conduct.
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) have come together to establish a bilateral industry platform to support the effective and balanced implementation of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for the textile and apparel sector.
The CITI-EURATEX initiative – the EU-India Textile and Apparel Dialogue (TAD) – will provide a structured forum for dialogue between industry representatives to promote reciprocal market access, resilient value chains, industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The formal signing of the TAD mandate between CITI and EURATEX, along with the first meeting of the joint CITI-EURATEX monitoring committee established under the TAD framework, took place at Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi on July 14.
“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. It can serve as an effective platform for putting forward the textile and apparel industry view on how the free trade agreement can benefit businesses both in India and the 27-nation bloc,” CITI Chairman Shri Ashwin Chandran said.
The European Union has long been a key export destination for India’s textile and apparel industry. In 2025, the European Union was the 2nd largest market for India’s textile and apparel exports. Textile and apparel exports from India to the EU stood at $7.6 billion in 2025.
However, Indian textile and apparel exporters have historically operated at a tariff disadvantage compared to several competing countries that enjoy preferential access
to the EU. This equation is expected to change once the India–EU FTA becomes operational.
The TAD has the following mandate:
- Monitor the implementation of the EU–India FTA and its impact on the textile and apparel sectors.
- Exchange information on trade flows, investment, preferential rules of origin and FTA utilisation.
- Identify implementation challenges, including customs procedures, market access barriers and regulatory issues, and propose practical solutions.
- Promote a level playing field through dialogue on enforcement, market surveillance and fair competition.
- Exchange best practices on sustainability, circularity, traceability and responsible business conduct.
- Encourage industrial cooperation, investment and stronger EU–India value chains.
- Raise awareness among companies of the opportunities created by the FTA.
- Develop, where appropriate, joint recommendations and communicate common industry priorities to the European Commission and the Government of India.
The TAD will comprise an equal number of representatives appointed by CITI and EURATEX, with the Chair rotating annually between CITI and EURATEX.