Stalled free trade talks between India and Britain to resume in 2025: British Prime Minister Starmer | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Stalled negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom, expected to raise an annual estimated GBP 42 billion bilateral trade relationshipwill be relaunched early next year.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement during his address to the British Parliament, after attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, where he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
“We have agreed to increase the ambition of our comprehensive strategic partnership between Britain and India, covering security, defence, technology, climate, health and education,” Starmer told MPs. “Crucially, this work will start with trade and investment, and I am pleased to say that we have agreed to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement early this new year.”
The FTA talks, which began in January 2022, were paused during their fourteenth round due to general elections in both countries. Now that the Labor Party is in charge in Britain, discussions will resume under a new government.
The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Starmer in Rio de Janeiro marked their first engagement since Starmer took office. Both leaders expressed optimism in resolving outstanding issues to create a balanced and mutually beneficial free trade agreement.
A statement from Britain shortly after the meeting said: “A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in Britain and represent a step forward in our mission to create growth and opportunity across our country.”
FTA will pave the way for greater cooperation in areas such as technology, climate change and education, while strengthening economic ties.
India’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has confirmed that talks will resume based on progress made during previous rounds, with both sides seeking to bridge the gap and speed up the finalization of the deal.