NEW DELHI: India and the UK have dismissed reports that New Delhi had halted talks on a trade deal over violence during a pro-Khalistan protest in London, though people familiar with the matter say progress in the negotiations has been affected by a host of issues.
The Indian side had reacted angrily to the protests in London, and British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for registering a strong protest over “actions taken by separatist and extremist elements” against the Indian mission. The Indian side has also reduced security for the UK High Commission and the British envoy’s residence in Delhi.
Britain too has dismissed the report on the halting of trade negotiations, with a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade saying: “Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month.”
However, there is acknowledgment that trade negotiations have run into rough weather following a change in the British Government’s leadership last year. After the change in leadership, the UK has attempted to bring up some issues that had been amicably settled, the people said. Britain is also pushing non-trade issues related to labour and environment.
The eighth round of India-UK trade talks were held during March 20-31. The next round is expected to be held in London later this month. India and the UK had come close to finalising an FTA last year, and then Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam had said on September 3 that the trade deal was “very much on track”. The two sides missed a deadline for finalising the deal by Diwali in October 2022, and the people believe several more rounds of talks will be needed to resolve thorny issues such as market access and mobility for professionals.
UK High Commissioner Alex Ellis had told newspersons last month that “We are down to core issues, where both countries would like to see a bit more opening of each other’s goods markets, looking at tariffs, some opening on the services side.”
