India, EU to resolve generic drug dispute - Anand Sharma

The EU has linked the talks to India's environmental performance, intellectual property rights and sensitive issues such as child labour. India has said it wants to keep the focus of the talks on trade. [ID:nDEL315020]

Ashton played down such differences but said a trade pact should tie in with efforts on climate change as well as spur growth in jobs and businesses.

"We are collaborating to make sure that everything we are doing on trade is also for supporting our economies ... to make sure everything we do supports our ambition on the environment," Ashton said.

"It's not really about one side, in a sense, making another side do anything," she added.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said New Delhi hoped to conclude the pact by 2010.

"These issues may have been referred to," Sharma said. "Negotiators meet, discuss all aspects but be very clear ... there are forums which deal with climate change."

"Here we are talking of trade, investment and services. No other extraneous issues are part of the negotiation," he added.

Exports to the EU jumped 29 percent from the previous year to $34.5 billion in 2007-8, according to Indian government data.