Europe's tariff wall is coming down.
The EU and India concluded their trade agreement in January 2026. The companies that are known to European buyers when it takes effect will set the terms for those who follow.
- 27 Jan 2026Negotiations concluded
- 2026Legal review, then signature
- 2026–27Approval by the EU Council, the European Parliament and India's cabinet
- Early 2027Expected entry into force; cuts phased in
Textiles and clothing
EU duties on Indian textiles and apparel, removed under the agreement.
Leather and footwear
EU duties on Indian leather goods and shoes, removed under the agreement.
Marine products
EU duties on Indian seafood, cut under the agreement.
Status October 2026. Timing depends on ratification; about 99.5% of India's exports by value become duty-free once all cuts are phased in, over up to seven years. Not legal advice.
Know where you stand in two minutes.
Enter your company website. We read it alongside European trade statistics, tariffs, public tenders and professional profiles, and show you how Europe lines up with what you sell.
Your Europe report, from your own website
- Europe's demand for your exact products, and India's share of it
- The top 3 countries to start in, and why
- Competitors already in Europe, and how many people they have there
- Public tenders European buyers publish for what you sell
- Your readiness: the certifications and rules buyers check first
We become your European team.
Opening an office is the last step, not the first. Start with a clear business case, sell through our team in the Netherlands, and set up your own entity once the orders are there.
- Weeks 1–2
Europe business case
Which countries, which buyers, what price, which certifications. Built with your team on your own products and numbers.
- Next quarter
Sell under your brand
Our team in the Netherlands finds and meets buyers, distributors and agents as your European business development desk.
- First orders
Win the first customers
Quotes, samples, trials and the first reference customers, with your factory and our team working as one.
- When ready
Establish in Europe
Entity, VAT, customs and people, only when the orders justify it. Not before.
Price gets you the meeting. Compliance wins the order.
European buyers ask about rules and certificates before they ask about price. We map what applies to your products and the order to tackle it in.
Product rules
CE marking, REACH for chemicals and textiles, toy and machinery rules: what applies to your product.
Buyer standards
ISO 9001, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, BSCI, ISO 27001: the certificates European buyers ask for first.
Traceability
EU deforestation rules apply from 30 December 2026 to cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood.
Carbon
Europe's carbon border tax (CBAM) covers steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser and more; certificates go on sale on 1 February 2027.
Indian companies ready for the next market.
Manufacturers and service companies that already export, or sell well in India, and want European customers. Founders, CEOs and export heads.
A Dutch base, an Indian heart.
Access Europe is run with our founding partner Airopa Global, headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Our team has spent decades building and running businesses across Europe and India, and knows both sides of the table.
The Netherlands is a natural landing point for Indian companies: English is widely spoken in business, and it sits next to Germany, Belgium and France, with one of Europe's largest ports in Rotterdam.
- EindhovenHeadquarters · High Tech Campus
- HyderabadPartner office
- LondonPartner office
- GenevaPartner office
