Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: A 30-member UK official delegation will start the next round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Indian team from October 9 to ensure that the two countries conclude the talks soon, an official said.
Both the countries had recently concluded the 13th round of negotiations. A team led by commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal was in London last week to give an impetus to the talks.
The UK team dealing with investment-related matters is already here, and the talks for the proposed bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with Finance Ministry officials are progressing at a faster pace.
“The 30-member team will be here, and both sides are attempting to close the remaining issues, such as rules of origin. Everything is at the closure level,” the official said.
The rules of origin provision prescribes that minimal processing should happen in the FTA country so that the final manufactured product may be referred to as goods originating in that country.
