Page 5 - Latest Updates on India UK Free Trade deal

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

India raises concerns over potential carbon taxes in UK FTA talks: Report

Earlier this year, Britain initiated consultations with domestic stakeholders on measures such as a potential carbon border tax, which could mimic the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism.

No deadline for UK FTA but working on a timeline: Commerce Secretary

Out of four pillars, India has joined three pillars - supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy (issues like tax and anti-corruption) and is an observer under the trade pillar

No deadline for conclusion of India-UK trade pact talks: Commerce Secretary

India and the UK are not working under any deadline for the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement as both sides are discussing issues that are "slightly" complex in nature, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that the two countries are working to finalise the issues as early as possible. "We are not working (under) any deadlines...because there are issues which are of slightly complex in nature and which have economic significance for both the countries," he told reporters here. "So we are looking at those issues much more carefully...so there is no deadline as such, we are working under timelines," he added. Joint Secretary in the commerce ministry and India's chief negotiator for the pact, Nidhi Mani Tripathi, said that the two sides continue to discuss the "outstanding issues" which remained unresolved. "At all levels, there have been continuous exchanges to iron out differences and we intend to close as many as

Here's why India and UK are acting like cowards on the free trade agreement

Indian negotiators are pushing for strict "rules of origin" checks for tradable goods, to make sure that any FTA benefits apply only to goods made predominantly in Britain

India-UK FTA: EAM hopes two sides will find 'landing point' which will work

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that India and the UK are currently focusing on a free trade agreement and hoped that the two sides will find a "landing point" which will work for both of them. Jaishankar, who is here on a five-day official visit to the UK with an aim to review various aspects of bilateral ties and give "new impetus to the friendly ties", also said that the agenda 2030 put greater emphasis on connectivity on trade on working together when it comes to defence and security, on health and all climate change. "We are focusing on what is officially called an enhanced trade partnership. In common sense, it's called FTA (a free trade agreement) and that is today very much the focus of what the Indian and British systems are negotiating and where we hope that we will find a landing point which will work for both of us," Jaishankar said. The India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was launched in 2021 along with the India-UK Roadmap 2030 which seek

Lotus Cars makes India debut with Eletre electric SUV at Rs 2.55 crore

India is currently considering a proposal to lower import taxes on British luxury EVs as part of the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement discussions

UK officials pressured to drop IP law demands in India trade talks

Critics say the changes would damage India's position as a leading provider of generic drugs - essentially "copycat" versions of those which fall out of patent

UK-India free trade deal poses risk for British millers Tilda and Veetee

British rice millers such as Tilda Ltd. and Veetee Rice have thrived for decades by importing low-tariff unmilled brown rice from the likes of India and Pakistan and "polishing" the grains