British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, currently in India for the G20 Summit, has indicated that the India-UK free trade agreement is a work in progress and not a guaranteed outcome. Sunak stressed the importance of reaching terms that are mutually beneficial for both countries.
While en route to India, Sunak stated, “We’ve been working towards an ambitious and comprehensive free trade deal, but it’s not a given. These things are a lot of work and a lot of time. We need to end up with something that works genuinely for both sides.”
During his visit, Sunak expressed the desire of both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and himself to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal between the two nations. He acknowledged the progress made but emphasized that trade deals require time and should be mutually advantageous.
Sunak’s visit comes after negotiations on the India-UK free trade agreement began in January of the previous year. While several political deadlines were missed, officials suggest that progress is ongoing, with the possibility of a final agreement by the end of this year.
A day before his visit, Sunak also clarified that the UK had no intention of altering its approach to reducing net migration to secure a trade deal with India. The British Prime Minister affirmed that there were no plans to change immigration policies, including student visas, for the sake of the free trade agreement.