India, UK look to resolve visa, EV issues under proposed free trade agreement
UK are trying to resolve issues concerning visas for domestic professionals and duty concessions on British electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the proposed free trade agreement, and talks on them are at the last leg, an official said. An Indian team is in the UK to iron out differences over these issues, besides some others in the services sector and customs duty cut on British whiskey.
The two countries are looking at tariff rate quota (TRQ) type arrangements for EVs.
Under TRQ, a fixed number of goods are allowed at concessional duty, and beyond that, normal duty applies.
The UK has sought customs duty concessions on exports of electric vehicles to India under the proposed free trade agreement.
«India is seeking a liberal visa regime for its services companies as those firms need to send skilled professionals to the UK.
So, visa regime should be facilitative for them,» the official said.
However, the UK is arguing that one of the main issues that led to Brexit was migration.
«So, we have to balance their migration concerns with our mobility concerns.
The point is that we would like our companies to have mobility, so they can perform and the UK's concern is to see that migration does not go unchecked,» the official said.
The fast-growing EV market in India is catching the eyes of global players. The UK is also looking at phasing out ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles by 2035, and the British auto market is export-driven.
