Need assurance from India on investment protection: UKIBC's Richard Heald

In a Q&A, UKIBC's group chair lists out three areas that need focus - tariff reduction in some sectors, removal of non-tariff barriers on goods, and aligning data protection rules

With India and the UK negotiating a free trade agreement, the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) presented its pre-FTA submission to the UK government earlier this month. RICHARD HEALD, UKIBC’s group chair, tells Shreya Nandi in an interview that three areas that need focus — tariff reduction in some sectors, removal of non-tariff barriers on goods, and aligning data protection rules. Edited excerpts:
 
What is the rationale behind the series of mini agreements, followed by an FTA?
 
If you look at how FTAs have been negotiated, and the time it has taken, either by India or by the UK