Current Affairs 21 March 2025

✅ Blog Highlights:

1. India-EU Trade Talks: Progress and Roadblocks

• Discussions advanced on dispute settlement mechanisms, notably mediation.

• No agreement yet on rules of origin. Next round scheduled for May 5 in New Delhi.

• EU raised concerns about India’s Quality Control Orders (QCOs).

• Talks focused on market access for European cars and medical devices.

• Goal: Finalize the trade deal by end of 2025.

2. US to Impose Reciprocal Tariffs on India from April 2

• President Trump announced new tariffs matching India’s high import duties.

• Affects Indian exports in agriculture, pharma, steel, and aluminum sectors.

• Ongoing trade gap: India’s average tariff is 17%, US’s is 3.3%.

• Agriculture tariffs in India reach 39% compared to 5% in the US.

3. World Happiness Report 2025

• Finland tops the list for the 8th consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Iceland.

• India improves to 118th position but remains behind Pakistan and China.

• The US falls to 24th, its lowest rank ever.

• Key factors: Trust in society, social support systems, and household dynamics.

• Afghanistan remains the least happy country.

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