India-UK sign landmark agreement to boost trade

Pact to promote pharma, engineering, chemical sectors

- AGENCY

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signed a free trade deal with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a multi-billion pound export boost.

UK cars and whisky will be cheaper to export to India and Indian textiles and jewellery cheaper to export to the UK under the agreement.

The deal took three years to reach and also commits to a new India-UK plan to tackle illegal migration

Opponents had warned the deal could undercut British workers due to extended social security terms, but UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said this was “completely wrong” and Indian workers on temporary secondment to the UK would get the same deal already offered to many other countries.

Speaking at the signing at the UK prime minister’s country residence Chequers, Sir Keir said: “This deal is now signed, sealed, delivered.