GTRI ADVISES INDIA AGAINST BINDING DATA FLOW COMMITMENTS IN IPEF

International trade experts recommend India set domestic rules and retain preferential treatment for domestic suppliers in government procurement in the proposed FTA with the UK

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As India and the United Kingdom move closer to finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has cautioned against agreeing to free cross-border data flows within the proposed trade deal. According to the think tank, maintaining ownership of national data is essential for the development of public services in India. GTRI also stressed that India should avoid binding commitments in this area to preserve the country’s policy flexibility in the future.

The negotiations between India and the UK for the FTA are in advanced stages, and both parties are expected to announce the conclusion of talks by the end of this month. This FTA represents a significant shift in India’s approach to trade, transitioning its focus from the east to the west, and broadening its scope to include non-trade matters such as environment, labour, gender, digital trade, and data governance.