India-uk Free Trade

Beyond the missed deadlines, India-UK FTA talks at a tricky turning point

India and the UK are set to relaunch free trade agreement talks next month under Keir Starmer's Labour Party, facing critical challenges including unresolved issues and shifting political priorities

India-UK FTA talks likely to restart in January amid complex issues

Issues like labour, environment remain tricky as talks may begin in Jan

India-UK FTA within finger-touching distance, says NITI Aayog CEO

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated between India and the UK is in the final stages with both sides within finger-touching distance to clinch an agreement, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said here on Wednesday. The FTA, negotiations for which were launched in January 2022 before being stalled due to general elections in both countries, is aimed at significantly enhancing the estimated GBP 38.1 billion a year bilateral trading partnership. During the signing ceremony for the new UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) agreement, both sides were keen to stress that the bilateral partnership is not being held hostage to the FTA even as the newly elected governments on both sides remain committed to it. "I think this is a deal that is in the last slab. The two sides I would say are not even at hand-shaking distance, the fingers are touching. It's just a question of that extra five inches and you can grab the deal, Subrahmanyam said while addressing a panel ...

India-UK FTA: UKIBC chief Mccole hopeful of signing some deal quickly

Reiterating the UK Foreign Secretary's statement, he noted that David Lammy sees FTA as a "floor" for both countries' trade and investment relationship

India committed to elevating ties with UK, desire to conclude FTA: PM Modi

India remains committed to elevating its ties with the UK and welcomes the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met him on Wednesday. In a post on 'X', Modi also appreciated the priority accorded by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to broaden and deepen the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. Lammy is on a two-day visit to India to galvanise negotiations for the trade pact and reset the overall bilateral partnership in crucial areas such as clean energy, new technologies and security. The British foreign secretary's visit to New Delhi is the first high-level engagement between India and the UK after Prime Minister Starmer's Labour government came to power on July 5. "A pleasure to meet UK FS @DavidLammy. Appreciate the priority accorded by PM @Keir_Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Modi said. "Remain committed to elevating the ties.

India-UK FTA: Pending issues to be solved post Britain's general elections

The outstanding issues with regard to the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will be taken up after the general elections in Britain, a senior government official said on Friday. The issues which need to be ironed out include duties in sectors like electric vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and services. "The outstanding issues to seal the deal will be resolved once the general elections in the UK are over," Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce L Satya Srinivas told reporters here. The UK's general election will be held on July 4. India and the UK launched talks for an FTA in January 2022 to boost economic ties between the two nations. There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to USD 21.34 billion in 2023-24 from 20.36 billion in 2022-23. On the India-EU trade pact, Srinivas said that the eighth round of talks is .

Good market access offered on both sides, says UK on India FTA talks

There has been good market access offered on both sides but not enough to secure a free trade agreement (FTA), the UK government has said as Indian negotiators are in London this week to continue discussions with their British counterparts. During a debate in the House of Lords this week, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron was addressing questions from British peers on the current state of freedom of religion or belief in India. The recent restructuring of the BBC to create a new Indian-owned entity in order to comply with the country's foreign direct investment (FDI) rules was flagged by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Jeremy Purvis, who questioned the level of market access being offered to India in the field of media, data and telecoms as part of the FTA negotiations. My understanding of where we are with the trade deal is that good market access has been offered on both sides, but not quite enough yet to secure a deal. It is important with such trade deals, as you only really get one

India, UK aim to sign free-trade agreement by July; legal vetting on

The timeline for finalising the FTA continues to remain crucial even after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections in early June, since the UK will get close to its general election thereafter

UK team heads back to London with Round 14 of FTA talks still open

Sources said the UK is "proud" of all that has been achieved so far and that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led government remains committed to securing a "comprehensive and ambitious" FTA and BIT

India-UK FTA: Goyal, Badenoch meet to decide future course of action

The ministers are expected to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's four-day summit - the 13th Ministerial Conference -- in Abu Dhabi

After PMO review, India makes likely final push for UK free trade agreement

If negotiations are not wrapped up at the earliest, discussions will have to be taken forward after India's election, depending on the priority of the new government

Progress of India-UK trade pact talks reviewed at highest level: Report

With the negotiations for the proposed India-UK free trade agreement reaching an advanced stage, the Prime Minister's Office reviewed the progress of the talks on February 16, sources said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal were also present in the meeting, they said. "The talks for the agreement are at a crucial stage now. About three reviews have happened so far at the highest level," they said, adding both countries are working to iron out differences on the remaining issues. The commerce secretary recently stated that the negotiations were taking time because "we want" to safeguard India's interest. "India should commercially gain out of it and we should also be able to safeguard the interest of our farmers, PLI (production linked incentive) scheme goods. So, we are there to see that the deal is a fair deal," he said. So far 13 rounds of talks have been completed and the 14th round started on January 10. Some of the key issues .

India-UK FTA: 'Majority of issues closed or at advanced stage of talks'

Majority of the issues in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK are either finalised or at an advanced stage of talks, a government official said on Monday. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce L Satya Srinivas said that the 14th round of negotiations between the officials of the two countries is underway here. "The majority of the chapters are either closed or at an advanced stage of negotiation. Discussions are being held at the higher level as well as at the team level to iron out differences," he told reporters here. The talks for the pact began in January 2022. The current round of talks is expected to be the final one. Talks are also progressing on the proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights. Issues from both goods and services are pending for conclusion. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to US

Rajnath Singh, David Cameron praise momentum of India-UK partnership

Cameron reiterated the UK government's desire to collaborate with India in defence areas. The leaders held the meeting at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UK looks for greater share in India auto sector under FTA: Official

Countries which are negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with India, including the UK, want a greater share in the country's fast-growing automobile sector, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday. He said that India has come to the centre stage of auto manufacturing not only in assembling but also in the whole value chain. The industry has strengthened itself in all areas, including making auto grade steel, components and tyres, besides exporting these goods, he said. The auto sector is now being shifting from conventional ICE (internal combustion engines) to Electric Vehicle (EV) battery-based systems. "When we look at our present strength and the future potential in India, I think it is going to be huge. "In fact when we are doing our FTAs, I remember that country after country, they are focusing on how they can get a pie out of the Indian automobile sector and when we are negotiating FTA with the UK...saying that this much of market share should be available to th

No reason for high tariffs on cars from UK, EU: Maruti Suzuki's RC Bhargava

Maruti Suzuki chief says costs of many models 20-30% lower in India

India to provide duty cuts in FTA only if UK increases localisation to 45%

The UK side has also opposed India's proposal to provide duty cuts for electric vehicles priced above $85,000

India-UK FTA talks: Trying to balance mobility, migration concerns

After a high-level UK delegation visited India to iron out the differences, currently, an Indian delegation is in London to advance discussions

India, UK seek to wrap up trade negotiations before busy election year

It's the 13th round of negotiations on a deal intended to expand a trading relationship that was worth more than $24 billion last year

India-UK FTA: Issues to be resolved in coming weeks, says Piyush Goyal

Goyal said both sides had several rounds of negotiations, and 20 out of 26 chapters have been sealed