There will be discussion regarding FTA between India-UK, senior officials of Rishi Sunak reached Delhi, will wait till February

Many senior officials of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s team are in India these days. The officials have come to Delhi in connection with the ongoing talks regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. No one has given any confirmation regarding this journey till now. No official statement has been issued by any department in this regard. The Guardian had reported on this visit and conversation on Saturday.

However, there is a possibility that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may consider finalizing the FTA by the end of February before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for the anticipated general election campaign. Elections are to be held in both the countries in the year 2024. Signing the trade agreement with India will also strengthen the image of the British Prime Minister. In a report published in The Guardian, the official informed that the deal is still very far ahead, and we believe that it can be achieved before the elections in both the countries. There is mutual eagerness to complete this.” Let us tell you that the negotiations for India-UK FTA started in January last year. Initially the deadline of Diwali 2022 was set by the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

13 rounds of talks have taken place in this episode. The meetings come as the Rishi Sunak-led Tory government is set to set firm new deadlines to secure a deal that is expected to significantly expand the GBP 36-billion bilateral trade partnership. A spokesperson for the Department of Trade and Trade (DBT) reiterated the UK government’s official stance, saying, “The UK and India are pursuing an ambitious trade deal that serves the interests of both countries. Our commitment is to a fair and balanced The agreement remains to be signed.” “A deal that is ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the economy.”

Recently External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar confirmed that FTA was one of the agenda items during his visit to the UK last month. He expressed confidence that both sides will reach a consensus that will serve their mutual interests. “We have made substantial progress. I believe both sides understand the importance of the FTA and will make every possible effort to achieve it,” Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told reporters after his meeting with Sunak and other senior Cabinet ministers. .

During his November visit, the minister also discussed FTA talks with UK opposition leaders, holding meetings with Labor leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy. It was initially believed that Rishi Sunak would use cricket diplomacy ahead of the England vs India World Cup clash in Lucknow on October 29 to finalize the much-awaited FTA. However, this did not happen due to internal political turmoil in the Tory Party and global tensions such as the Israel–Hamas conflict. Asked about the deadline during a House of Commons committee session, UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “We are on the verge of completion.” We will finalize it at the appropriate time.