FTA talks with UK in month-end

BRITISH OFFICIALS TO VISIT INDIA FOR 15TH ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

- FE BUREAU

AS THE WORLD is drawn into a trade war, India and the UK will sit down and resume negotiations on a free trade agreement on February 24. A team of negotiators from the UK will be in New Delhi to start the 15th round of talks.

Negotiations on the FTA have been on hold for around a year—a period which saw a change in government in the UK, the return of President Donald Trump in the US, and the beginning of a tariff war involving the biggest economies of the world. Having imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, Trump has said similar action could be taken against the European Union "pretty soon." He has, however, left a window open for a deal with the UK. As the largest importer in the world seeks to curb imports, major exporting countries would be looking for markets elsewhere and a renewed push for bilateral and regional trade pacts is expected, according to experts.