Piyush Goyal to visit UK for FTA talks, review EFTA trade talks progress

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Piyush Goyal will visit the UK on July 10-11 to take stock of the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) and review the progress of the talks for a similar pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the government said Sunday. “The minister’s visit will not only be focused on the ongoing FTA negotiations between India and the UK but he will also be meeting with ministers from the EFTA member countries to discuss the progress of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA,” the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

As per the statement, the visit comes at a crucial juncture, as both India and the UK are committed to expanding their economic ties and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral trade. “With the FTA negotiations gaining momentum, the visit aims to further propel the discussions and pave the way for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would drive economic growth and strengthen ties between the two nations,” it said.

During the visit, the minister will engage in high-level meetings with his UK counterparts, including the Secretary of State for International Trade, as well as representatives from various sectors and industries. “These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the key priorities and objectives of the FTA negotiations, with a focus on addressing trade barriers, promoting investments, and fostering greater cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, and intellectual property rights,” it said.

India and the UK have completed ten rounds of talks and the pact will cover 26 policy areas. Investment is being negotiated as a separate agreement but both would get simultaneously concluded.