India and UK revive free trade talks with focus on quality, balance, and long-term growth

India and UK re-launched the negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) today.

Announcing the resumption of talks at a joint press conference, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade said they are looking for a forward looking, transparent and ambitious equitable, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement which will be a win-win for both our countries.

The countries have not set a deadline for negotiations. “It’s never too early and never too late to conclude a good agreement. Trade agreements are for a long term future, to crystal graze 20-30 years into the future and make an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides, and therefore neither should we rush into things, but its always good to conclude fast. We will have speed, but not haste”, Goyal said. His UK counterpart Reynolds said that UK is more concerned about the quality of the agreement rather than speed of delivering them. “This is a top priority for the UK government”, he said.

“In an increasingly volatile and multi-polar world, India is a vital partner for the UK. Our countries are deeply intertwined through our shared principles, astute democracies committed to the rules based international order. What binds us even together is our shared ambition to champion free and open trade and investments to drive jobs and growth across both our countries. I am here today to kick start these negotiations to strengthen our close and vibrant relationship and look new opportunities for businesses and consumers across both the UK and India. Because at the centre of my government is a mission to deliver economic growth to put pounds back in peoples pockets to support our businesses to thrive to create wealth and jobs and opportunities”, Reynolds said.

Talks for India-UK deal got stuck after 14 rounds of negotiations because of a regime change in the UK last year. The incumbent UK Premier Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024 decided to re-launch the India-UK FTA talks soon.

India and the UK have a close partnership, built through collaboration on security and defence, new and emerging technologies, climate, health, education, research and innovation, green finance and people-to-people contacts.