‘You need to take a lesson or two from us’: Goyal tells Dutch Trade Minister to embrace deregulation

Piyush Goyal Urges Europe to Learn From India's Deregulation Efforts

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called on European countries to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, arguing that excessive compliance requirements can make trade and commercial operations more difficult.

Speaking at the India-Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague on Monday, October 26, Goyal said India was taking steps to simplify regulations and improve the ease of doing business.

Addressing Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Goyal remarked that Europe needed to learn from India's approach to deregulation.

“Sadly, you need to take a lesson or two from us on that,” he said in a lighter vein.

Goyal argued that businesses across the world were looking for greater freedom to operate, simpler procedures and less paperwork. He also highlighted India's efforts to create a more business-friendly environment through regulatory reforms.

Goyal Criticises Europe's Growing Regulatory Burden

The Indian minister said the European Commission and governments in several European countries had imposed significant compliance requirements on businesses.

According to Goyal, he had repeatedly raised concerns about the regulatory burden during his interactions with European officials.

He said that while ministers might not always welcome his criticism, business representatives often privately supported his calls for simpler rules.

Goyal maintained that reducing unnecessary compliance requirements would help companies operate more efficiently and create opportunities for investment, manufacturing and international trade.

He added that the Indian government regularly seeks feedback from businesses to identify areas where procedures can be simplified.

Dutch Minister Defends Necessary Regulations

Responding to Goyal's comments, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma acknowledged the importance of reviewing regulations that unnecessarily obstruct trade.

However, the Dutch minister emphasised that not every regulation should be removed.

He said rules relating to climate protection, product quality, security and consumer safety served important purposes and should remain in place.

Sjoerdsma argued that governments needed to distinguish between regulations that protect consumers and the environment and those that create avoidable barriers to business.

His response highlighted the difference between India's emphasis on reducing compliance costs and Europe's approach to maintaining standards while reviewing unnecessary regulatory requirements.

Dutch Minister Rules Out Renegotiation of CBAM

The discussion also brought attention to the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a policy that places a carbon-related cost on imports of certain carbon-intensive goods.

Sjoerdsma ruled out renegotiating the mechanism, describing it as an important instrument for meeting the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.

CBAM covers products such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.

India has raised concerns about the potential impact of the mechanism on its exporters, particularly businesses in sectors that face higher costs when complying with European climate-related requirements.

The Dutch minister said the European Union considered CBAM necessary to ensure that climate commitments were respected. At the same time, he acknowledged that some of the associated guidelines could be complex, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

He said the Netherlands was working to help businesses in India and other partner countries understand the requirements and navigate the compliance process.

India Pushes for Easier Business Compliance

India has introduced several initiatives aimed at simplifying regulations and reducing the burden on businesses.

One such initiative is the Jan Vishwas framework, which seeks to improve the ease of doing business and living by changing the treatment of certain minor, technical and procedural violations.

Under these reforms, selected offences have been decriminalised or made subject to monetary penalties and administrative measures rather than criminal punishment.

India has also undertaken efforts to remove redundant compliance requirements and simplify government procedures.

Goyal presented these measures as part of the country's broader effort to attract investment, support manufacturing and make it easier for domestic and international businesses to operate.

India Highlights Investment and Infrastructure Opportunities

During the business forum, Goyal highlighted India's large consumer market, young workforce and expanding infrastructure as important reasons for international companies to consider investing in the country.

He described India as a trusted business partner and said the country offered opportunities for companies to collaborate on manufacturing, investment and technology.

Goyal also pointed to government spending on infrastructure, including ports and airports, as evidence of India's efforts to improve connectivity and support economic growth.

He encouraged Indian and Dutch businesses to explore opportunities to co-invest, co-manufacture and develop partnerships in sectors where both countries have complementary strengths.

India-Netherlands Trade Relations in Focus

The forum was part of Goyal's official visit to the Netherlands, aimed at strengthening economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

The discussions covered investment, manufacturing, infrastructure and cooperation in high-technology industries.

Sjoerdsma highlighted opportunities in areas such as medical technology, energy and semiconductors. He also emphasised the importance of stronger business relationships at a time when international trade is becoming more politicised and unpredictable.

The Dutch minister said building trust between countries and businesses was essential to strengthening trade and investment.

The two sides are also looking to deepen economic cooperation within the broader India-European Union trade relationship. The India-EU trade agreement was expected to be signed by December 2026, with implementation targeted for the following spring, according to reports published during the visit.

Why Deregulation Matters for Businesses

Regulatory requirements can affect the cost, speed and complexity of doing business across borders.

Companies operating in multiple countries often need to comply with different standards, reporting requirements, documentation procedures and environmental rules. Although some regulations protect consumers and support public policy objectives, overlapping or unclear requirements can increase operating costs.

Goyal's remarks reflect India's argument that unnecessary compliance burdens should be reduced to encourage investment and commercial activity.

The Dutch minister's response, meanwhile, underscores Europe's position that regulatory simplification should not undermine climate commitments, product safety or consumer protection.

The debate highlights a central challenge in international trade: how to make business procedures simpler while maintaining standards that governments consider essential.

Key Takeaways

• Piyush Goyal urged Europe to learn from India's efforts to reduce regulatory burdens.

• He made the remarks at the India-Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague on October 26, 2026.

• Goyal called for simpler business procedures, less paperwork and lower compliance burdens.

• Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma supported reviewing unnecessary regulations but defended rules concerning climate and consumer safety.

• Sjoerdsma ruled out renegotiating the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

• CBAM applies a carbon-related cost to imports of selected carbon-intensive goods.

• India has introduced reforms, including the Jan Vishwas framework, to simplify compliance and improve the business environment.

• Both countries highlighted opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, investment, medical technology, energy and semiconductors.

• The discussion reflects the challenge of balancing regulatory simplification with environmental and consumer-protection objectives.

Bottom Line

Piyush Goyal's remarks at the India-Netherlands Business Forum underline India's push to reduce compliance burdens and make business operations easier. While the Dutch minister acknowledged the need to review unnecessary regulations, he defended European climate and product-safety rules and ruled out renegotiating CBAM.

The exchange highlights both the potential for closer India-Netherlands economic cooperation and the continuing differences between India and Europe over the role of regulation in international trade.