Gender Inclusive Trade – An EU-India Opportunity for the Future

This paper explores the opportunity for inclusive trade against the backdrop of the deepening EU-India strategic partnership. Bilateral trade is one of the key drivers of the EU-India relationship. With negotiations for an EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) renewed after nearly a decade, the paper advocates for integrating a gender lens into the trade policy to ensure inclusivity. The gendered nature of trade underscores the reciprocal relationship between trade policies and gender inequalities and demands greater attention. The paper analyses both the EU and India’s varied approaches to mainstreaming gender in trade policy, noting that recent policy changes indicate a shift, with a willingness to discuss gender in trade agreements. The paper recommends incorporating a dedicated chapter on gender in the EU-India FTA, drawing from existing agreements. It emphasises the need for joint initiatives in trade facilitation and suggests enhancing trade networks, empowering women’s access to markets and resources, leveraging existing forums, and facilitating knowledge exchange. In conclusion, the paper underscores the importance of mainstreaming gender in trade for the EU-India partnership’s equitable and inclusive growth. As both parties negotiate, integrating gender perspectives becomes essential for shaping a sustainable and just trade relationship.