India and the United Kingdom have concluded a long-coveted free trade pact, in a landmark deal that represents the UK’s most significant post-Brexit agreement that was finalised in the shadow of US President Donald Trump’s tariff increases.
The deal, between the governments of the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies, has been concluded after three years of stop-start negotiations and aims to increase bilateral trade by a further 25.5 billion pounds ($A52.7 billion) by 2040 with liberal market access and eased trade restrictions.
“These landmark agreements will further deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation and innovation in both our economies,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
The deal lowers tariffs on goods such as whisky, advanced manufacturing parts and food products such as lamb, salmon, chocolates and biscuits.
It also agrees to quotas on both sides for cars imports.
Both countries are also seeking bilateral deals with the United States to remove some of Trump’s tariffs that have upended the global trade system, and the resulting turmoil sharpened focus for officials in London and New Delhi on the need to clinch a UK-India trade deal.
“We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK’s economy,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
“Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our plan for change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home.”
The pact marks India opening up its long-guarded markets, including cars, setting an early example for the South Asian country’s likely approach to dealing with major world powers such as the US and the European Union.
Talks over a free trade deal between India and the UK were initially launched in January 2022, and became a symbol of the UK’s hopes for its independent trade policy after leaving the EU.
But negotiations were stop-start, with the UK having four different prime ministers since that launch date and elections in both countries last year.
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