With India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations nearing conclusion, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has called on the Government of India to secure duty-free market access for Indian-made jewellery exports to the European Union.

The demand comes ahead of the India-EU Summit scheduled in New Delhi on 27 January 2026. The Council stated that current EU import duties of 2.5% to 4% on gold, silver, platinum, imitation jewellery and coins reduce competitiveness for Indian exporters.

To address this, GJEPC has formally sought the removal or reduction of these tariffs. It has also proposed calibrated concessions on select EU imports, particularly diamonds and coloured gemstones, to support a balanced agreement.

Commenting on the negotiations, GJEPC's Kirit Bhansali said, “We commend the sustained and focused efforts of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal in advancing the India-EU FTA negotiations. We have high expectations that this agreement will deliver concrete gains for the gem and jewellery sector. Tariff reduction on jewellery products is critical to help Indian exporters raise their share in Europe’s large import market, improve margins for MSMEs, and support employment across the value chain.”

India-EU gem and jewellery trade currently stands at $ 5.15 billion. In CY2024, India exported $ 2.7 billion to the EU and imported $ 2.5 billion. Exports were led by cut and polished diamonds at $ 1.72 billion, followed by gold jewellery at $ 453 million and silver jewellery at $ 85 million.

EU-27 imports $ 11.37 billion of gold jewellery annually, of which India supplies $ 468 million. In silver jewellery, India accounts for $ 104 million of the EU’s $ 2.47 billion imports. India holds 2% of the EU’s $ 2.7 billion imitation jewellery market.

According to ITC Trade Map, India has an untapped export potential of US$ 16 billion in the EU jewellery market.