India, UK looking to resume FTA talks early next month

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

India and United Kingdom (UK) are exploring "mutually convenient dates" for the next round of talks, around the proposed foreign trade agreement (FTA), in early February 2025, commerce ministry said on January 15.

Talks for the trade deal between India and Britain were put on hold in March 2024 as both countries back then were awaiting the conclusion of their respective general elections.

UK and India have been negotiating an FTA since January 2022 under the previous Conservative-led government. The current Labour Party government too has expressed desire to continue these talks.

There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights.

The commerce ministry also informed that the 10th round of negotiations for the proposed FTA between India and European Union is scheduled between 10-14 March in Brussels.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal recently said that both India and EU want a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement.

New Delhi is also in talks with Oman, Peru, Sri Lanka for FTAs, and is also negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Australia building upon the market access commitments in the Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement (ECTA) between them.