UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy: Free Trade Deal With India is “Our Ambitions’ Floor, Not Ceiling

Mr. Lammy, as he embarked on a high-profile trip, emphasized the negotiations for the trade deal as the floor, not the ceiling, of the ambitions to unlock shared potential and deliver growth. He highlighted India’s emergence as a superpower with a large population and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The British government readout stated that Mr. Lammy would push for a “reset” of the UK-India partnership, including reinforcing London’s commitment to securing a free trade agreement that would benefit both economies.

He also expressed interest in partnering on Indian-led global initiatives for clean power access and climate resilience. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that Mr. Lammy’s visit would strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Additionally, it was noted that the talks between Mr. Lammy and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would focus on the FTA and New Delhi’s concerns over pro-Khalistan elements in Britain.

Both sides had agreed on almost 90% of the trade pact, but several sticky issues remained, such as import duties on automobiles and scotch whisky, and visas for business people. Mr. Lammy aimed to highlight the importance of a new partnership with India focusing on economic, domestic, and global security, emphasizing the extraordinary contribution of British Indians. The talks between Jaishankar and Mr. Lammy were expected to review the implementation of the India-UK roadmap.

They were also likely to deliberate on pressing global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East.