India and the European Union have agreed to finalize a long-pending free trade agreement this year and boost cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity and defense.

India and the European Union on Friday agreed to conclude a free trade deal by the end of the year, their first commitment to a deadline on talks that have been going for years, as they look to soften the effect of tariff increases from the United States.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is in Delhi to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties with India amid looming tariff threats from the US. Von der Leyen is due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Ursula von der Leyen is in Delhi where she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday [Indian Ministry of External Affairs]