India-UK Free Trade Agreement in jeopardy due to British Minister's com

London: During his tenure as the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson had expressed his belief that a free trade agreement between India and the UK would be concluded by the coming Diwali. Liz Truss, who was the British Foreign Minister at the time, now has become the Prime Minister of UK and it is claimed that the possibility of a free trade agreement between India and the UK has been winded up during her tenure. The UK’s new Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s statements about Indians have caused intense repercussions and jeopardised the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is of Indian origin, had commented that the free trade agreement between India and the UK would increase the number of Indian expatriates here. Indians are at the forefront of those staying in the UK even after their visas have expired. Forwarding this reason, Home Minister Suella opposed the Free Trade Agreement with India. There are reports that Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been preparing to clash with British Prime Minister Liz Truss over this issue. Besides, India has already expressed strong displeasure over the British Home Minister’s statement.

Against this background, it is claimed in a report published by quoting experts that India’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK is currently in trouble. When British Prime Minister Liz Truss was the Minister of Trade and then the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had pursued this agreement between India and the UK. However, during her tenure as PM, the agreement ran into trouble, and the ongoing FTA discussions have stalled. So it has become clear that this agreement is not possible till Diwali.

Some experts opine that even if the agreement is fulfilled in future, it would not be to the extent the consensus for the agreement had reached when Boris Johnson was the British PM. Besides, the media says this deal will take some time to move forward. Displeasure is expressed in British media that the FTA talks between India-UK have stalled due to some individuals.

After Brexit, i.e. the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, the UK has been trying to get an opportunity in a new market like India. Also, UK’s economy, which slowed down after Coronavirus, had very high expectations from India. It emerges that possibly the UK, which has been taking measures for this, may have been affected by internal politics, which is why Home Minister Suela may have made anti-India statements.