India and the EU kick off a new round of trade negotiations today, with the aim of finalising what could be Europe's largest trade deal by the end of the year. But convincing New Delhi to open up its agricultural markets won’t be easy. Talks resumed in 2022 after a nine-year hiatus and are now in their 10th round. As the European Commission accelerates trade deals amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, securing a deal with India - home to 18% of the world's population - has become a top priority for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Sugar sector voices concern European farmers are also concerned - particularly about Indian sugar imports, as the country is one of the world's biggest producers. When trade talks resumed in 2022, the European Parliament insisted that India remove its “enormous” sugar subsidies, following a WTO ruling that they breach international trade rules. In a press statement issued last week, the European sugar manufacturers' association CEFS and the sugar beet growers' association CIBE said they "oppose" any further opening of the EU market to Indian imports.