India looking to iron out issues for expeditious close of FTA with UK

PM Narendra Modi (right) with UK counterpart Keir Starmer

The commerce ministry will closely work with the United Kingdom to iron out remaining issue as talks for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides resume in 2025. The ministry, through diplomatic channels, will finalise the dates for the resumption of talks at the earliest.

"The FTA talks would resume the discussions from the progress achieved previously and seek to bridge the gaps for expeditiously closing the trade deal," the commerce ministry said in a statement on November 20.

The statement comes two days after India and the United Kingdom decided to resume talks FTA talks which have been going for a long time. Negotiations were paused in March 2024 as both sides awaited the conclusion of general elections in their countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a a bilateral meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. Starmer said the new trade deal would support jobs and prosperity in the UK  and represent a step forward "in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across the country".

Stressing on the need for securing a balanced, mutually beneficial and "forward-looking FTA",  the commerce ministry said India wants to closely working with the UK's negotiating team to address remaining issues to mutual satisfaction.

India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA since January 2022.