UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak connected with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for a call this week to reaffirm their commitment to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed on the importance of securing a historic and comprehensive deal that benefits both countries.
The phone call came as a UK negotiating team had flown back from New Delhi last week with the 14th round of UK-India FTA negotiations still open with a few issues yet to be resolved. Both leaders have now agreed to remain in close contact as they look forward to further progress on the trade talks.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The leaders welcomed the thriving partnership between the UK and India and discussed recent progress on Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
“They agreed on the importance of securing a historic and comprehensive deal that benefits both countries. The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of reaching an ambitious outcome on goods and services.
“They agreed to remain in close contact and looked forward to further progress on trade talks.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), noted that Sunak and Modi also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. Besides, they exchanged greetings on the upcoming festival of Holi, which falls on March 25.
The MEA statement notes: “The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue to strengthen the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic partnership. They expressed satisfaction on the progress made under the [UK-India] Roadmap 2030 in diverse areas including trade, investment, defence, security, emerging technologies and others.
“They assessed positively the progress made towards early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
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With a general election expected in India as early as from next month, the likely timing of a UK-India FTA is now expected to be delayed at least beyond that.
“We can actually sign an agreement before the Indian election. I suspect that that is not necessarily going to be the case because I don't want to use any election as a deadline,” UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said at a trade conference in London last week.
“I am very resistant to deadlines being set on trade negotiations because it runs down the clock,” she said.
