India and the United Kingdom have officially resumed negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant step in strengthening economic ties between the two nations. The announcement was made by India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart, Jonathan Reynolds, who is currently in Delhi for discussions.
Delighted to meet & welcome @JReynoldsMP, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to Incredible India!
Looking forward to an action-packed day of discussions. pic.twitter.com/48cwkmPiYt
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 24, 2025
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, both sides are committed to working towards a balanced and forward-looking trade deal that fosters mutual growth. The renewed talks follow a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024, where they emphasized the need to restart negotiations at the earliest.
Expressing optimism, Goyal stated, “I am very confident that we will be able to make rapid progress to meet the collective aspirations for trade, investment, and the mutual prosperity of the people of the United Kingdom and India. It’s also very auspicious that we are restarting discussions today just before we celebrate Mahashivratri, which signifies the sacred union of Shiv and Shakti.”
The FTA discussions seek to address outstanding issues and ensure a fair and equitable agreement that benefits both economies. India and the UK share a strong bilateral relationship built on collaboration in key areas, including security and defence, technology, climate change, healthcare, education, and green finance. The two leaders have directed their teams to work towards resolving differences and finalizing a deal that aligns with their shared vision for economic growth and sustainable development.
