India-UK Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Back On Track, Ministerial Talks Expected Next Week: Report

India and the United Kingdom are set to resume negotiations on the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aiming to bolster trade and investment ties between the two nations, news agency ANI reported citing sources.

According to the ANI report by ANI, discussions will resume soon, with UK Minister for Trade, Douglas Alexander, scheduled to visit India next week for high-level talks with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

The meeting between Alexander and Goyal will focus on strategies to accelerate the FTA negotiations, which have faced multiple delays.

The proposed agreement seeks to eliminate trade barriers, reduce tariffs, and enhance market access for businesses in both countries, thereby fostering a stronger economic partnership.

Both India and the UK have been striving to finalise a comprehensive trade deal covering key areas such as goods, services, technology, and investment.

The upcoming discussions are expected to address outstanding issues and find common ground to advance negotiations.

Following his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the FTA negotiations would be relaunched in 2025.

This signals a renewed commitment from both governments to bridge existing gaps and reach an agreement that benefits businesses and consumers alike.

On 27 November 2024, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, confirmed that the Keir Starmer-led government was keen to restart negotiations, noting that the Free Trade Agreement remains an "ongoing process".

He also highlighted that the UK had completed its internal review in July, clearing the way for talks to resume.

The India-UK FTA negotiations began on 13 January 2022, with 13 rounds completed by December 2023. The 14th round, which commenced on 10 January 2024, was suspended by the UK in May 2024 due to its general elections.

However, the recent meeting between Modi and Starmer at the G20 Summit has paved the way for discussions to resume with fresh momentum.

Read More: Chennai’s Outer Ring Road Corridor Set For Major Development: Industrial, Green, And Business Hubs Planned