UK-India trade deal sparks controversy, unnecessarily

Talks on a UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) concluded on 6 May and subject to the legal text being finalised satisfactorily signing of the deal is expected in due course (and it will enter into force following completion of the relevant procedures in both countries as is usual with international agreements).

The UK Government’s policy paper summarises the detail of the FTA covering anti-corruption commitments aimed at providing greater certainty for business measures on business mobility rules to facilitate physical access to each other’s markets streamlined customs procedures and controls for goods and measures to ‘reduce unjustifiable barriers to digital trade and promote compatibility of digital trading systems’. Tariffs will be removed or reduced on most goods imported into India with ‘tariffs being eliminated on 99% of Indian goods’ imported into the UK.

Alongside the FTA a double contributions convention is expected...