On February 18, 2026, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that there are no obstacles to the implementation of the recently concluded EU-India trade deal, following discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Orpo emphasized the unanimous support from EU member states, stating, "At last week's informal European Council meeting, nothing arose that would suggest there are any problems with the implementation of the trade agreement." The deal, which aims to slash tariffs on most goods and reduce reliance on the U.S., is expected to be implemented within a year. Orpo remarked, "In today's world, the value of the trade agreement is extremely high. What we need globally is more free trade, not tariffs," highlighting the deal's significance amid rising global trade tensions (Business Recorder, February 18, 2026; Global Banking & Finance Review, February 18, 2026).