India and EU announce landmark trade deal

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Trade terms and economic impacts

  • Commenters note steep tariff cuts toward zero on most goods except agriculture and sub‑~$17k cars, with India dropping very high tariffs on luxury cars and motorcycles.
  • Some see this as especially beneficial to India, which can export a broad range of goods, while EU gains are concentrated in high‑tech sectors (chips, pharma, machinery, chemicals).
  • Others argue cheaper Indian imports may help EU consumers during a cost‑of‑living crisis and diversify away from Chinese supply, given China’s industrial overcapacity.

Mobility clause and immigration debate

  • There’s disagreement over what “mobility framework” means.
    • One camp cites EU/Indian statements about opening opportunities for Indian students, workers, and professionals, treating it as a real loosening.
    • Another points to a Reuters‑reported draft and EU press release framing mobility as a non‑binding MoU on skills and qualifications, stressing that immigration remains a member‑state competence.
  • The thread is heavily derailed into broader immigration politics (EU, Canada, UK, US), with:
    • Supporters emphasizing skill shortages (IT, nursing) and benefits of talent mobility.
    • Critics warning about brain drain from India, cultural fit, housing/labor pressure, and program abuse (e.g., “skilled” visas used for cheap labor).
  • Accusations of racism, “wedge issues,” and even foreign disinformation campaigns surface, while others call for more nuanced, policy‑focused discussion.

Geopolitics, China, and defense

  • Several comments frame the deal as part of a wider realignment: EU+India counterbalancing China and reducing dependence on the US amid US tariff policy and political instability.
  • Some references to Chinese media and officials opposing the deal, and to alleged Chinese disinformation against French/Indian defense tech.
  • The parallel EU–India security/defense pact (including Indian access to EU rearmament programs) is highlighted as strategically significant but under‑discussed compared to immigration.

EU process and comparisons

  • Some are impressed that EU concluded big deals with Mercosur and India in quick succession; others note both took ~20 years and can still be stalled by member‑state vetoes.
  • Comparisons with Switzerland’s India/China trade surpluses and with UK/Canada/US visa regimes appear throughout.

Media/paywall tangent

  • A side discussion critiques the new US‑only BBC paywall and debates whether BBC counts as “state media” or a public broadcaster, focusing on funding, governance, and editorial independence.