India and UK Strengthen Ties with Commitment to Free Trade Agreement
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Annual UK-India Strategic Dialogue in London |
| Participants | Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra (India), Sir Philip Barton (UK), Lord Tariq Ahmad (UK), UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge |
| Key Focus | Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and 2030 Roadmap review |
| FTA Negotiations | 14th round commenced in January 2024; covers 26 chapters including goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights |
| Indian Demands | Greater access for skilled professionals in the UK |
| UK Demands | Reduced import duties on scotch whisky, electric vehicles, and chocolates; expanded opportunities in telecommunications, legal, and financial services |
| Bilateral Trade | USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23, up from USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22 |
| 2030 Roadmap Progress | Collaboration on malaria vaccine, support for India's G20 Presidency, Migration and Mobility Partnership for students and entrepreneurs |
| Defence Cooperation | Discussions on ongoing and future defence capability cooperation initiatives |
| Commitments | Strengthening cooperation in trade, defence, climate, and health sectors |