What to expect from Modi’s visit to UK
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to England to sign an official free trade agreement between the global trade tensions triggered by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The long-awaited signature of the India-England Free Trade Agreement, which was adopted in May after three years of negotiations and defined as “turning point” and “historical”, is the center of the visit.
Modi’s two -day state visit from Wednesday to England comes to the fourth and both nations for a very important moment. It offers the chance to diversify trade and diplomatic partnerships for India. For England, it is still struggling with trade problems after Brexit, and the agreement represents a rare economic breakthrough.
A Ministry of Commerce official of an Indian Trade official said Modi accompanied Piyush Goyal for the official signature.
Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri told journalists on Tuesday, said the legal supervision of the agreement was completed.
Mr. Modi meets its counterpart Keir Starmer for “extensive” talks on trade, defense, security and technological cooperation and climate. He is likely to meet King Charles.
While the trade agreement continues to be the focal point, the journey aims to reset the binary bonds, to deepen strategic cooperation and to strengthen human-human connections.
The agreement, which is expected to increase a trade relationship of 42.6 billion pounds, was completed after 14 official negotiations.
Mr. Goyal described the agreement as öğretim a turning point in India’s external economic participation and winning-win for both economies ”.
Mr. Starmer greeted this as a bir a bold step for global Britain ve and reflected GDP to $ 4.8 billion a year and potentially supporting more than 30,000 new businesses.
In accordance with the agreement, the UK agreed to eliminate more than 99 percent of Indian exports, including textiles, automobile parts, leather products, pharmaceutical and agricultural products.
India agreed to reduce tariffs in 90 percent of British goods. He agreed to significantly reduce British exports. Scotch whiskey, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, luxury cosmetics and some high -tech products.
Currently, British cars, which are currently more than 100 percent of tariffs in India, will see that tasks have fallen to 10 percent. The agreement also offers tariff concessions about medical devices, drugs, aircraft components and electronic products.
The Ministry of Commerce official is expected to reach the UK market for electricity and hybrid vehicles.
Ajay Sahai, General Manager of Indian Export Organizations Federation, added that Pact will increase trade and provide access to Indian sectors such as textiles, shoes, sea and engineering products.
Beyond trade, Mr. Modi and Mr. Starmer will discuss supporting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of India-England, which was initially launched in 2021.
Mr. Modi is also planned to meet the leaders of the Indian Diaspora, which is estimated to be more than 1.7 million.
The Free Trade Agreement was subjected to a parliamentary examination in the UK and a study by the Indian cabinet before entering into force.
The Indian cabinet approved the agreement on Tuesday after the legal rubbing of the text. The British parliament has not yet approved.
Sensitivity remains around the issues that are unresolved or quietly side by side for now.
India strictly excluded agriculture from the scope of the agreement, which is a politically and economic sensitive sector, which maintains more than 40 percent of the country’s labor force. This long -standing red line reflects the resistance of new Delhi’s farmers to foreign competition, and has complex interviews with other major partners, including the USA.
More controversial provisions include India’s commitment to gradually reducing tariffs in some British imports, such as Scotch whiskey and luxury tools.
Although these sectors are very important for the UK, Indian producers, especially in the alcohol industry, have warned, affect the market and damage homemade brands.
Mr. Modi’s trip to England is part of a two -national tour. Mohamed Muizzu, who was first known for his pro -Chinese tendencies for his third trip from England to the island country, has become president in November 2023.
