NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is hoping to resolve through dialogue a trade dispute with the European Union over high import tariffs, its commerce minister said on Monday after a meeting with his visiting French counterpart.

Last month, the European Commission said it was taking India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a dispute over New Delhi's high duties and taxes on wine and spirit imports.

"The (French) minister has strongly raised the issue," Kamal Nath said at a joint news conference with Christine Lagarde. "I hope we will resolve this by dialogue and it won't have to reach the next stage of dispute settlement."

Consultations at the WTO can last for 60 days but if no agreement is reached, Europe's complaint could eventually lead to retaliatory tariffs being imposed by the EU on Indian exports.

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