India and UK look to clinch trade deal in new London meeting
Tariff cuts on whisky and autos finalized as the UK and India edge closer to a long-awaited free trade pact
Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and a British delegation headed by Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds visit the National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy in New Delhi, India, February 24, 2025.
Reuters/file
British trade minister Jonathan Reynolds met his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal in London on Friday in an unscheduled resumption of talks as the countries seek to clinch a free trade deal.
Goyal returned to London for the talks, a British government spokesperson said, after a two-day visit earlier in the week ended without a final agreement.
Talks between Britain and India on a free trade agreement started in January 2022, as Britain sought to forge an independent trade policy after leaving the European Union.
After talks were delayed by a churn in British politics, with four different prime ministers in office since negotiations began, the Labor government that took power last year looked set to clinch a deal imminently.
The British and Indian governments each said that talks earlier in the week had been constructive.
Businesses briefed on the outline of a deal on Tuesday said only a few issues remained outstanding, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Areas such as the reduction of tariffs on whisky and autos had been finalized, they added.
Britain and India are also looking to conclude separate treaties on investment and social security, negotiated alongside the free-trade agreement.
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