News Analysis India

Tag: India-UK free trade agreement

  • India-UK free trade deal on the verge of collapse: Media report

    By Express News Service

    The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) which was targeted to be signed before Diwali, is on the verge of collapse, according to The Times, London, following the Indian government’s fury over comments made by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman against its immigrants.

    “I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants,” the Indian-origin Braverman recently said in the context of the free trade deal that could increase migration.

    The Times quoted government sources in both countries to say that India was shocked and disappointed by her disrespectful remarks. A report in Politico claimed that any plan of a UK visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Diwali to sign the FTA with his counterpart Liz Truss is also not likely to go ahead.

    The Diwali deadline for the pact was during the then prime minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Delhi. Johnson and Modi had great personal chemistry. Joining issue with Braverman, the Indian High Commission in London had said action had been initiated on all cases referred to it under the Migration and Mobility Partnership clinched last year. The pact was signed by Braverman’s predecessor Priti Patel and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

    “Mobility has been the key Indian ask and everything else – financial services, banking, education, rules of origin on whisky, etc, hinges on the mobility ask. And Suella has gone and pulled the rug from under that mobility ask,” a senior British government source told The Times.

    The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) which was targeted to be signed before Diwali, is on the verge of collapse, according to The Times, London, following the Indian government’s fury over comments made by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman against its immigrants.

    “I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants,” the Indian-origin Braverman recently said in the context of the free trade deal that could increase migration.

    The Times quoted government sources in both countries to say that India was shocked and disappointed by her disrespectful remarks. A report in Politico claimed that any plan of a UK visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Diwali to sign the FTA with his counterpart Liz Truss is also not likely to go ahead.

    The Diwali deadline for the pact was during the then prime minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Delhi. Johnson and Modi had great personal chemistry. Joining issue with Braverman, the Indian High Commission in London had said action had been initiated on all cases referred to it under the Migration and Mobility Partnership clinched last year. The pact was signed by Braverman’s predecessor Priti Patel and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

    “Mobility has been the key Indian ask and everything else – financial services, banking, education, rules of origin on whisky, etc, hinges on the mobility ask. And Suella has gone and pulled the rug from under that mobility ask,” a senior British government source told The Times.

  • FTA with India may miss Diwali deadline after UK’s concern

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The much-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may not be able to meet the Diwali deadline.

    One of the things directly indicative of the delay is UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, expressing reservations about this agreement.

    She said that the FTA could increase immigration to the UK and it would go against the goals of Brexit. In an interview with the magazine The Spectator, Braverman voiced concerns about the impending free trade agreement to be signed by Diwali, as it could increase immigration. 

    Braverman said: “Look at migration in this country — the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.”  The Indian High Commission in London reacting to the remarks made by the Home Secretary said, “We have seen reports in the media regarding a statement attributed to the Home Secretary about the ongoing negotiations for the India-UK FTA and migration issues in this context. While certain issues pertaining to Mobility and Migration are currently under discussion as part of these negotiations, any comment on these matters may not be appropriate given that the negotiations are underway. Any arrangement will include issues of interest on both sides.’’

    As a part of the wider discussions under Migration and Mobility, the Indian government has said it is committed to work with the government of UK to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who have overstayed their visa period.

    “Here in the UK, as per the data shared with the Home Office, as on date, action has been initiated on all of the cases referred to the High Commission. further, the UK has also undertaken to fulfil certain commitments as part of the Migration and Mobility Protocol, on which we await demonstrable progress,’’ the High Commission added. 

    Sources point out that the Diwali deadline, that was set by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is unlikely to be met. “there are many things that are yet to be finalised and with less than two weeks left for Diwali, its unlikely to be completed,’’ said sources. 

    The home secretary told The Spectator that it would serve as a better policy measure to reduce job vacancies domestically than increase immigration.

    NEW DELHI: The much-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may not be able to meet the Diwali deadline.

    One of the things directly indicative of the delay is UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, expressing reservations about this agreement.

    She said that the FTA could increase immigration to the UK and it would go against the goals of Brexit. In an interview with the magazine The Spectator, Braverman voiced concerns about the impending free trade agreement to be signed by Diwali, as it could increase immigration. 

    Braverman said: “Look at migration in this country — the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.”  The Indian High Commission in London reacting to the remarks made by the Home Secretary said, “We have seen reports in the media regarding a statement attributed to the Home Secretary about the ongoing negotiations for the India-UK FTA and migration issues in this context. While certain issues pertaining to Mobility and Migration are currently under discussion as part of these negotiations, any comment on these matters may not be appropriate given that the negotiations are underway. Any arrangement will include issues of interest on both sides.’’

    As a part of the wider discussions under Migration and Mobility, the Indian government has said it is committed to work with the government of UK to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who have overstayed their visa period.

    “Here in the UK, as per the data shared with the Home Office, as on date, action has been initiated on all of the cases referred to the High Commission. further, the UK has also undertaken to fulfil certain commitments as part of the Migration and Mobility Protocol, on which we await demonstrable progress,’’ the High Commission added. 

    Sources point out that the Diwali deadline, that was set by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is unlikely to be met. “there are many things that are yet to be finalised and with less than two weeks left for Diwali, its unlikely to be completed,’’ said sources. 

    The home secretary told The Spectator that it would serve as a better policy measure to reduce job vacancies domestically than increase immigration.