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Deadline with India pushed back.

 

India trade agreement

Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch has refused to commit to a deadline to finalise a much-hyped trade agreement with India, but said looming elections there and in the UK were increasing pressure to secure a deal. The two countries missed an October deadline agreed by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson, then UK premier, to secure an agreement by the Hindu festival of Diwali, following months of political turmoil in the UK. The Brexit promise of a trade deal with the US has failed to materialise, while Johnson’s claim that an Indian agreement would be secured this autumn has also turned out to be wishful thinking. Badenoch’s caution follows a backlash over the UK-Australia trade deal signed last year, with some Conservative MPs warning that the government had made too many concessions to Australia.


Badenoch travelled to New Delhi this week for the first face-to-face trade talks since July. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, which has now overtaken the UK in size, presents a large opportunity as Modi’s government is trying to reduce its reliance on China. But a trade agreement with Delhi has proved controversial among some pro-Brexit Conservative MPs, with Suella Braverman, the home secretary, in October provoking anger in India for expressing «reservations» because the deal could increase immigration. As part of the agreement, India is seeking greater access to business visas for professionals to work in the UK.

Badenoch said that both sides had made progress on India’s demand for more visas, but that negotiations had arrived at their most challenging juncture.

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Comments

  1. Alexa14 December 2022 at 17:09

    Reducing your reliance to countries like China or Russia is a good thing and I'm glad India is thinking in that direction. And yes, the UK needs to be careful and negotiate better than they did with Australia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom14 December 2022 at 17:39

      One shouldn’t be relying on any one country, especially the likes of Russia or China. It’s better to have 10 partners than just 1. And India is in a position where it can get better deals with just about anyone.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous14 December 2022 at 19:33

    While an increase in immigration is something to watch out for, there are countless examples of well-prepared, hard-working Indians that are a great addition to the UK workforce so Suella Braverman should also take this into account.

    ReplyDelete

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