Modi and Sunak Revive Hopes for India-UK FTA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed bilateral relations and FTA negotiations at the G7 summit in Italy. The leaders agreed to accelerate trade talks, which are expected to resume after the new UK government is formed in July.

In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his British counterpart, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral relations and reviving the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

This comes months after their last meeting at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, where both leaders committed to accelerating the FTA talks. The trade negotiations, which began in January 2022, have the potential to significantly boost bilateral trade, currently valued at around 38.1 billion pounds annually.

The discussions are expected to gain momentum after the formation of a new UK government on July 4, setting the stage for a renewed push to finalize the trade deal before India heads to its general elections.