India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Explained

India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement
Type:Free trade agreement
Context:Trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom
Negotiators:
Parties:

The India–United Kingdom free trade agreement is a proposed free trade agreement which began negotiations in January 2022.[1] When completed it will be the first comprehensive free trade agreement that India has signed with a European country; it is expected be the third trade agreement signed by Britain since leaving the European Union negotiated completely anew.[2]

Negotiations

IUKFTA Round of Negotiations
Round Dates Location Ref.
1 17–28 January 2022 Virtual meeting [3]
2 7–17 March 2022 [4]
3 25 April–6 May 2022 [5]
4 13–24 June 2022 [6]
5 18–29 July 2022 [7]
6 12–16 December 2022 [8]
7 6–10 February 2023 [9]
8 20–31 March 2023 [10]
9 24–28 April 2023
10 5–9 June 2023 [11]
11 5–14 July 2023 [12]
12 8–31 August 2023 [13]
13 18 September–15 December 2023 [14]

In May 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed deeper trade co-operation between the two countries.[15] This “Enhanced Trade Partnership” removed a number of trade barriers andset out the two countries’ intention to work towards a free trade agreement.[16]

India and the UK launched negotiations in January 2022.[17] Johnson declared that the agreement should be completed by Diwali 2022.[18] [19] Despite this, in October2022, the Secretary of State for International Trade, Kemi Badenoch, said thatthe Government was no longer working to this deadline.[20] She stated that theGovernment wanted “to focus on the quality of the deal rather than the speedof the deal”.[21]

By December 2023, the UK and India had reached the 13th round of negotiations, deciding to fast track the agreement in order to complete prior to the elections in both countries the following year.[2] Negotiations between both countries are locked in several issues, one of which is the UK's concerns about agreeing to visas for professionals demanded by India.[22] The thirteenth round of negotiations concluded on 18 December 2023.[14]

The fourteenth round of negotiations began on 10 January 2024.[23] India had been pushing to include social security payments for Indian workers in the UK, Badenoch is reportedly “keen to avoid” this.[24] In March, UK Negotiators flew to India in a “last-gasp attempt to clinch an FTA before the Indian election campaign pauses talks”, according to a UK government official, adding that India believes “they will get more out of Labour on visas and social security”.[25] Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited India the month prior to talk with Indian officials.[26] The UK is asking for access in India's government procurement as well as signing a bilateral investment treaty before concluding the FTA.[27] Some British trade officials are increasingly pessimistic about the India deal and see a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council as a more realistic deal which can be struck prior to the next election.[25] The fourteenth round of negotiations remain open without a breakthrough on major outstanding issues between the two countries, India became primarily focused on their upcoming general election.[28] Badenoch stated thatshe would not use the Indian elections as a deadline, just prior to India signing a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, whose members include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.[29] On 12 March, Modi and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed to work for an early conclusion of the free trade agreement, during a phone call.[30] [31]

On 15 March, it was announced that negotiations will be "put on ice" until spring after India's election concludes.[32] [33] At the beginning of April, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry placed the completion of India–UK FTA as their priority for 100-day agenda after a new government takes charge.[34] Despite the fourteenth round being declared the prior month, the round remained open by request of India in April 2024; India demanded an exemption from the UK’s planned carbon tax, as well as concessions on visas for Indian workers and, a social security agreement.[35] On 28 May, a high-ranking British delegation had abruptly cancelled its scheduled visit to New Delhi, due to the snap election announcement in the UK a few days prior.[36]

By Spring 2024, the majority of the 26 chapters in the FTA, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights were completed; the remainder of the unresolved issues were rules of origin, duty concessions on electric vehicles, Scotch whisky, social security agreement, carbon border tax, and liberalisation of financial services, in addition to a separate bilateral investment treaty.[37]

Following Modi's re-election on 4 June, which was received positively by UK-based strategic experts and poll watchers, Modi maintained his party's stated objective to conclude the UK-India FTA negotiations within those first 100 days.[38] India had to wait until 4 July for the conclusion of the British general election, in order to resume negotiations for the FTA.[39] On 14 June, Modi and Sunak reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the free trade agreement at a bilateral meeting during the 50th G7 summit.[40] [41] Upon the election of Sir Keir Starmer as British Prime Minister, the two leaders agreed to work towards early conclusion of a mutually beneficial FTA during a phone call.[42] During a visit to New Delhi in late July, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Modi committed to an early conclusion for the FTA under the Starmer government.[43]

Comments

Diageo India CEO, Hina Nagarajan stated that the FTA would be one of the greatest milestones for market access in the alcoholic beverage industry in decades if the 150% duty levied on imported Scotch whisky is reduced.[44]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Parker. George. Parkin. Benjamin. 22 August 2023. UK-India trade talks intensify in bid to remove 'significant' barriers. Financial Times. 22 August 2023. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822153902/https://www.ft.com/content/e639ffdc-a32a-44af-bdb8-b556eb5a0823. 22 August 2023. live.
  2. News: Srivastava. Shruti. 5 December 2023. India, UK Seek to Wrap Up Trade Talks Before Busy Election Year. Bloomberg. 6 May 2024. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20240506211559/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-05/india-uk-seek-to-wrap-up-trade-talks-before-busy-election-year?srnd=uk-politics. 6 May 2024. live.
  3. Web site: Trevelyan. Anne-Marie. 28 January 2022. Joint outcome statement: India-UK round one FTA negotiations. GOV.UK. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128144741/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-outcome-statement-india-uk-round-one-fta-negotiations. 28 January 2022. live.
  4. News: Lord Grimstone of Boscobel. 24 March 2022. India Trade Negotiations Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423163305/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-03-24/HLWS694. 23 April 2024. live.
  5. News: Trevelyan. Anne-Marie. 12 May 2022. India Trade Negotiations: Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423163642/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-05-12/hcws16. 23 April 2024. live.
  6. News: Trevelyan. Anne-Marie. 28 June 2022. India Trade Negotiations: Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927122852/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-28/debates/22062854000016/IndiaTradeNegotiations. 27 September 2022. live.
  7. News: Trevelyan. Anne-Marie. 10 August 2022. Letter to the House of Lords dated 10 August 2022. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024.
  8. News: Badenoch. Kemi. 9 January 2023. India Trade Negotiations: Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423161846/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-01-09/debates/23010930000019/IndiaTradeNegotiations. 23 April 2024. live.
  9. News: Badenoch. Kemi. 7 March 2023. India Trade Negotiations: Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423161434/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-07/debates/23030751000010/IndiaTradeNegotiations. 23 April 2024. live.
  10. News: 10 May 2023. Joint outcome statement: UK-India round nine FTA negotiations. GOV.UK. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230510134804/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-outcome-statement-uk-india-round-nine-fta-negotiations. 10 May 2023. live.
  11. News: Huddleston. Nigel. 20 June 2023. India Trade Negotiations: Update. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423160047/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-06-20/hcws865. 23 April 2024. live.
  12. News: Huddleston. Nigel. 20 June 2023. Written Statements. UK Parliament. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423160559/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-09-07/debates/059c3853-c94e-416d-bc60-c6e611309992/WrittenStatements. 23 April 2024. live.
  13. News: 1 September 2023. Joint outcome statement: UK-India round twelve of FTA negotiations. GOV.UK. 23 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230901135726/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-outcome-statement-uk-india-round-twelve-of-fta-negotiations. 1 September 2023. live.
  14. News: 18 December 2023. Joint outcome statement: UK-India round thirteen of FTA negotiations. GOV.UK. 18 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240101030034/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-outcome-statement-uk-india-round-thirteen-of-fta-negotiations. 1 January 2024. live.
  15. News: Johnson. Boris. 4 May 2021. Prime Minister announces £1 billion of new UK-India trade. GOV.UK. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504070119/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-1-billion-of-new-uk-india-trade. 4 May 2021. live.
  16. News: Mayes. Joe. 4 May 2021. Johnson and Modi Pledge 'Quantum Leap' in U.K.-India Ties. Bloomberg. 15 December 2023. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504072509/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-04/u-k-india-seek-to-double-trade-by-2030-as-johnson-modi-speak. 4 May 2021. live.
  17. News: Trevelyan. Anne-Marie. 13 January 2022. UK-India Free Trade Agreement Negotiations. UK Parliament. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230112173915/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-01-13/debates/2201138000010/UK-IndiaFreeTradeAgreementNegotiations. 12 January 2023. live.
  18. News: Johnson. Boris. 22 April 2022. PM statement in India: 22 April 2022. GOV.UK. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220422135243/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-in-india-22-april-2022. 22 April 2022. live.
  19. News: MacAskill. Andrew. Smout. Alistair. 22 October 2022. Britain still wants free trade deal with India by Diwali. Reuters. registration. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221012125241/https://www.reuters.com/world/britain-still-wants-free-trade-deal-with-india-by-diwali-2022-10-12/. 12 October 2022. live.
  20. News: Fraser. Douglas. 13 October 2022. Scotching the trade deal with India?. BBC News. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013135716/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-63194942. 13 October 2022. live.
  21. News: Mukhopadhyay. Sounak. 14 October 2022. India-UK free trade agreement: Diwali deadline no longer valid, negotiations still on. Mint. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221014063321/https://www.livemint.com/news/world/indiauk-free-trade-agreement-fta-diwali-deadline-no-longer-valid-negotiations-still-on-11665726331757.html. 14 October 2022. live.
  22. News: Sharma. Abhimanyu. 15 December 2023. UK reluctant to agree to India's demands for visas under proposed FTA: Sources. CNBC TV18. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215124442/https://www.cnbctv18.com/economy/india-uk-fta-visa-electric-vehicles-alcohol-scotch-whisky-18579431.htm. 15 December 2023. live.
  23. News: Singh. Namita. 22 August 2023. Indian delegation in UK for final push on free trade agreement. The Independent. 21 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240221123914/https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-uk-free-trade-agreement-b2499773.html. 21 February 2024. live.
  24. News: Parker. George. Reed. John. 10 February 2024. UK-India trade deal talks hit impasse over social security payments. Financial Times. 5 March 2024. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20240218214051/https://www.ft.com/content/a0366d72-7aa3-4905-9147-9717e2c6e419. 18 February 2024. live.
  25. News: Courea. Eleni. 5 March 2024. UK negotiators fly to India in last-ditch effort to seal free-trade deal. The Guardian. 5 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240305054232/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/05/uk-negotiators-fly-to-india-in-last-ditch-effort-to-seal-free-trade-deal. 5 March 2024. live.
  26. News: Kumar. Shajil. 5 February 2024. Labour party aims to boost trade ties with India. Eastern Eye. 5 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240305124813/https://www.easterneye.biz/labour-party-aims-to-boost-trade-ties-with-india/. 5 March 2024. live.
  27. News: Suneja. Kirtika. 5 March 2024. As India gets poll ready, FTA talks with UK in last leg. The Economic Times. subscription. 5 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240305195516/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/as-india-gets-poll-ready-fta-talks-with-uk-in-last-leg/articleshow/108246180.cms. 5 March 2024. live.
  28. News: Srivastava. Shruti. White. Lucy. 8 March 2024. India-UK Trade Talks Set to End With Key Issues Unresolved. Bloomberg. 8 March 2024. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308184411/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-08/india-uk-free-trade-talks-set-to-end-with-no-breakthrough-on-major-issues?srnd=uk-politics. 8 March 2024. live.
  29. News: Hoskins. Peter. 11 March 2024. India signs $100bn free trade deal with four European nations. BBC News. 11 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311030613/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68531241. 11 March 2024. live.
  30. Modi. Narendra. narendramodi. 1767568626029138333. 12 March 2024. Had a good conversation with PM @RishiSunak. We reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and work for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement.. 12 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171213/https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1767568626029138333. 12 March 2024. live.
  31. News: Seli. Yeshi. 12 March 2024. PM Modi speaks to British PM Sunak, says will work for early conclusion of FTA. The New Indian Express. 12 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240312172420/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Mar/12/pm-modi-speaks-to-british-pm-sunak-says-will-work-for-early-conclusion-of-fta. 12 March 2024. live.
  32. News: Parker. George. 15 March 2024. UK-India trade deal talks put on ice until end of spring. Financial Times. 15 March 2024. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20240315225050/https://www.ft.com/content/34ef2976-63de-45c8-84a5-6cc3ebd49c69. 15 March 2024. live.
  33. News: Courea. Eleni. 15 March 2024. UK and India put free trade deal talks on ice until later this year. The Guardian. 15 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240315225344/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/15/uk-and-india-put-free-trade-deal-talks-on-ice-until-later-this-year. 15 March 2024. live.
  34. News: Kumar. Dhirendra. India-UK FTA tops commerce ministry's 100-day agenda. 10 April 2024. Mint. 11 April 2024. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20240410111912/https://www.livemint.com/economy/indiauk-fta-tops-commerce-ministry-s-100-day-agenda-11712740670033.html. 10 April 2024. live.
  35. News: Courea. Eleni. 19 April 2024. India seeks UK carbon tax exemption in free trade deal talks. The Guardian. 19 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240419124505/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/19/india-seeks-uk-carbon-tax-exemption-in-free-trade-deal-talks. 19 April 2024. live.
  36. News: Singla. Anmol. 28 May 2024. British delegation calls off New Delhi visit, putting India-UK FTA talks in limbo. What is going on?. Firstpost. 31 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240528100910/https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/british-delegation-calls-off-new-delhi-visit-putting-india-uk-fta-talks-in-limbo-what-is-going-on-13775916.html. 28 May 2024. live.
  37. News: 29 May 2024. Election delays over FTA: Finalising the Indo-UK deal will have to await the incoming governments in both nations. The Financial Express. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530160255/https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/election-delays-over-fta-finalising-the-indo-uk-deal-will-have-to-await-the-incoming-governments-in-both-nations/3505251/. 30 May 2024. live.
  38. News: 4 June 2024. India's thriving flourishing democratic process wins big in UK. The Week. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240604142542/https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2024/06/04/fgn55-uk-india-election-reax.html. 4 June 2024. live.
  39. News: Craw. Victoria. 5 June 2024. UK may work with India on visas and trade after elections. i. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605144940/https://inews.co.uk/news/world/uk-may-work-india-visas-trade-election-3092488. 5 June 2024. live.
  40. News: 14 June 2024. G7 Summit: PM Modi and British PM Rishi Sunak meet in Italy. The Times of India. 14 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240614123837/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/g7-summit-pm-modi-and-british-pm-rishi-sunak-meet-in-italy-to-discuss-bilateral-relations/articleshow/110996519.cms. 14 June 2024. live.
  41. News: 14 June 2024. PM Modi meets British counterpart Sunak; reaffirms commitment to bilateral strategic ties. The Economic Times. 14 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240614124047/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm-modi-meets-british-counterpart-rishi-sunak/articleshow/110997375.cms. 14 June 2024. live.
  42. News: 5 July 2024. Starmer, Modi agree to work towards mutually beneficial India-UK FTA. Business Line. 7 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240706232254/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/starmer-modi-agree-to-work-towards-mutually-beneficial-india-uk-fta/article68375362.ece. 6 July 2024. live.
  43. News: Sharma. Kiran. 26 July 2024. India and U.K. eye early FTA under new Starmer government. Nikkei Asia. subscription. 26 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240725160423/https://asia.nikkei.com/favicon.ico. 25 July 2024. live.
  44. News: Sharma. Abhimanyu. 29 May 2024. Diageo India: India-UK FTA will be a milestone for market access if 150% duty comes down. CNBC TV18. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240529211939/https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/diageo-india-india-uk-fta-will-be-a-milestone-for-market-access-if-150-pc-duty-comes-down-19420063.htm/. 29 May 2024. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.