LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1856
ANSWERED ON- 02/08/2024
NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDIA AND UK
1856. SHRI RAJA A
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether new strategic partnership between India and UK was discussed consequent upon the new UK Prime Minister assuming the office;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any discussion was held recently for finalizing Free Trade Agreement with UK; and
(d) if so, the details and progress thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a & b) The India-United Kingdom bilateral partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2021 with a ten-year Roadmap to guide the progress of the relationship across all sectors including Trade and Investments, Defence and Security, Technology, Science, Innovation and people-to-people relations.
India is engaging with the new Labour Government in the UK to take forward India-UK ties, including through a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. Subsequent to the formation of the new Government in UK, both Prime Ministers spoke on phone on 6 July 2024. Thereafter, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also visited India from 24-25 July 2024. Both sides remain committed to deepening and diversifying the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
(c & d) India and the UK are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since 13th January 2022. Recently, the Indian team visited UK (16-19 April 2024) for negotiations on outstanding issues. Subsequently, our Services team also visited UK from 8-10 May 2024 to discuss outstanding issues in Services track. The teams have made good progress. Both sides are engaged to work out a trade deal that is fair, equitable and mutually beneficial, which takes into consideration the ambitions and sensitivities of both the sides. During the recent visit of UK Foreign Secretary, both sides appreciated the substantial progress made in the India-UK FTA negotiations and looked forward to its early conclusion. India’s Minister for Commerce and Industries met UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds on the sidelines of G7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Apulia, Italy in July 2024. The talks included plans to take forward the discussions on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK.