Berlin / New Delhi | October 22, 2026 – India is looking to deepen its trade and investment links with Europe as uncertainty over US tariffs continues to complicate the outlook for Indian exporters. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Germany from October 22 to 24, followed by the Netherlands from October 24 to 27, is aimed at expanding market access, attracting investment and building industrial and technology partnerships.
Goyal is travelling with a delegation of around 100 businesses and startups. Their agenda includes advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, artificial intelligence, information technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, clean technology and logistics. The visit comes as India seeks to diversify export destinations and strengthen supply chains at a time when trade policy decisions in major economies can change the cost of doing business.
The immediate objective is to identify practical opportunities for Indian companies. The longer-term challenge is to turn diplomatic engagement and trade agreements into additional orders, investment and sustainable export growth.
The 60-second brief
- Europe outreach: Piyush Goyal is visiting Germany from October 22–24 and the Netherlands from October 24–27.
- Business delegation: Around 100 Indian businesses and startups are accompanying the minister.
- US tariff uncertainty: Changes in US trade policy have increased pressure on exporters to assess alternative markets.
- EU trade agreement: Negotiations were concluded in January 2026, but the agreement still requires signature and the relevant approval procedures before it can enter into force.
- Key sectors: Automotive, advanced manufacturing, AI, IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, clean technology and logistics.
- Export performance: India recorded total exports of $863.1 billion in financial year 2025–26, including $441.8 billion in merchandise and $421.3 billion in services.
Why India is looking beyond the United States
The United States remains an important destination for Indian goods and services, but changing tariff conditions can make export planning difficult. Companies need clarity on the duties their products will face, the rules they must meet and whether their prices will remain competitive against goods from other countries.
The tariff uncertainty described in recent reporting has added urgency to India’s efforts to broaden its commercial relationships. When access to one major market becomes less predictable, businesses may look for additional buyers, diversify manufacturing locations or explore partnerships that reduce dependence on a single destination.
Europe offers several potential routes for that diversification. Germany has a strong industrial base, including automotive engineering, machinery, advanced manufacturing and clean technology. The Netherlands is important for logistics and trade connectivity, with the Port of Rotterdam serving as a major European gateway for goods.
However, moving into new markets is not an instant substitute for US business. Exporters must meet local regulations, technical standards, customer requirements and delivery schedules. They may also need new distributors, certification, after-sales support and investment in local operations.
That is why direct business engagement is central to the current visit.
India’s European trade agreement: What has changed?
India and the European Union announced the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement in January 2026. The agreement is designed to reduce tariffs and other barriers across a broad range of goods and services, potentially expanding market access for businesses on both sides.
But concluding negotiations is not the same as bringing a trade agreement into force. The text must go through the required legal and institutional procedures, including signature and the relevant approval processes. Until those steps are completed, businesses cannot assume that all proposed tariff reductions are available.
The agreement is expected to create opportunities in sectors ranging from manufacturing and textiles to pharmaceuticals, services and technology. The actual benefits will depend on the final terms, implementation timetable, rules of origin and each company’s ability to meet the requirements.
For Indian exporters, the minister’s European visit is therefore significant even before the agreement takes effect. Companies can begin identifying prospective customers, assessing compliance requirements and exploring partnerships that may help them prepare for future market access.
What will happen in Germany?
During the Berlin leg, Goyal is scheduled to participate in the Berlin Global Dialogue, where policymakers and business leaders discuss international economic and strategic issues.
The discussions are expected to focus on trade, investment, advanced engineering, green mobility, clean technology and resilient supply chains.
The accompanying Indian business delegation will hold sector-specific discussions with German companies. The agenda includes:
- Automotive and advanced manufacturing
- Infrastructure and energy
- Information technology, artificial intelligence and services
- Agri-food, consumer goods and textiles
- Healthcare, pharmaceuticals and wellness
The delegation will also participate in an India-Germany investment roundtable with Germany Trade & Invest, exploring opportunities for Indian companies to establish operations and build commercial partnerships in Germany.
These discussions could help businesses identify suppliers, customers, joint-venture partners and investment opportunities. Any concrete commercial gains, however, will depend on the agreements and projects that emerge from the meetings.
Why the Netherlands matters
The Netherlands offers India a different but complementary set of opportunities. Its role in European logistics, distribution and international trade makes it a useful entry point for companies seeking to move products across the continent.
Goyal’s programme includes government-to-government meetings in The Hague with Dutch economic and foreign-trade officials. Discussions are expected to cover trade, investment and cooperation in areas connected with the green transition.
On October 25, the Indian business delegation is scheduled to visit the Port of Rotterdam to study its logistics and supply-chain infrastructure. The visit could help Indian companies understand how goods move through one of Europe’s major trade hubs and identify opportunities in shipping, warehousing, distribution and supply-chain services.
The India-Netherlands Business Forum is scheduled for October 26 in The Hague. It will bring together businesses from both countries and include sectoral discussions on food processing, high technology, renewable energy, logistics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods and services.
For Indian exporters, the potential value lies not just in selling to Dutch buyers, but also in building connections that could support access to wider European markets.
What do India’s export figures tell us?
India recorded total exports of $863.1 billion in financial year 2025–26, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Merchandise exports reached $441.8 billion, while services exports totalled $421.3 billion.
The figures show the importance of both physical goods and services in India’s international trade. They also underline why diversification requires more than shifting shipments from one country to another: different industries have different market-access requirements and growth opportunities.
Government data show that India’s merchandise exports to free-trade-agreement partner markets included:
- ASEAN: $38.42 billion
- United Arab Emirates: $37.36 billion
- Australia: $7.28 billion
- United Kingdom: $13.44 billion
These figures reflect the scale of trade with selected partner markets, although they should not be treated as a direct comparison of the overall economic benefits of each agreement. Market size, the range of products traded and the length of time an agreement has been in force all matter.
India’s experience with Australia also illustrates how trade agreements can change business activity. Following the implementation of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in December 2022, the number of certificates of origin issued for Indian goods rose substantially, according to figures cited in government reporting. Merchandise exports to Australia reached approximately $7.28 billion in FY2025–26.
Certificates of origin help exporters establish that goods qualify under the relevant rules for preferential tariff treatment. Their increased use can indicate that more businesses are exploring or using an agreement’s provisions, although the number of certificates alone does not prove that an agreement caused all export growth.
Can Europe offset US tariff pressure?
Europe can offer Indian businesses additional customers, investment partners and supply-chain connections. But it is unlikely to replace the US market quickly or uniformly across all sectors.
The opportunity will vary by industry. Manufacturers may benefit from closer links with German industrial firms, while technology and service companies could explore partnerships in AI and digital services. Pharmaceutical and textile exporters may find new customers, but they will still need to meet product standards, regulatory requirements and competitive pricing expectations.
The European Union’s trade agreement with India could improve market access once it enters into force. Until then, businesses must work within the tariffs and rules currently applicable to their products.
There are also broader challenges. European demand can fluctuate, compliance costs can be significant, and exporters may face competition from established suppliers in Europe and elsewhere. Smaller businesses may need financial support, market intelligence and local partners to enter successfully.
The strategic goal is therefore not simply to replace one market with another. It is to build a more resilient export base in which companies have multiple destinations and are less exposed to sudden changes in trade policy.
What happens next?
The immediate test will be whether the meetings in Berlin and The Hague lead to specific business opportunities, investment commitments, joint projects or stronger supply-chain links.
The next milestone for the India-EU agreement will be progress through the remaining signature and approval procedures. Businesses will need clarity on the implementation timeline, tariff schedules and rules of origin before they can fully plan around the proposed preferences.
Indian exporters will also be watching developments in US trade policy. Any change in tariff rates or the status of the proposed trade framework could influence pricing decisions, investment plans and the urgency of market diversification.
For now, the European visit is an effort to expand India’s options rather than a guarantee that tariff pressure will disappear.
The bottom line
India is using its engagement with Germany and the Netherlands to explore new export markets, attract investment and deepen industrial and technology cooperation as US tariff policy remains uncertain.
The visit brings together diplomacy and business, with around 100 Indian companies and startups looking for practical opportunities across manufacturing, technology, healthcare, consumer goods and logistics.
India’s record exports of $863.1 billion in FY2025–26 provide a strong starting point, but future gains will depend on whether companies can convert market access into repeat orders and lasting commercial relationships.
Europe may become a more important part of India’s trade-diversification strategy. The real measure of success will be what follows the meetings: new customers, investment, production partnerships and sustained export growth.
