India, UK Resume Trade Talks Amid US Tariff Pressure, Immigration Not On Agenda

Photo: Twitter/PiyushGoyal

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – In response to President Donald Trump’s recent threats of imposing tariffs on foreign goods, India and the United Kingdom have accelerated efforts to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA). Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the resumption of negotiations on February 24.

The decision to exclude immigration from the FTA agenda addresses a significant sticking point that had previously hindered progress. Goyal clarified, “They are two totally different subjects, and India has never ever discussed immigration in any free trade agreement negotiations.” Secretary Reynolds concurred, noting that while the UK values its relationship with Indian nationals for study and business purposes, “business mobility is a separate issue to immigration.”

The renewed urgency in the trade talks comes in the wake of President Trump’s recent directives to raise tariffs on countries he perceives as maintaining unfair trade barriers against American products. This geopolitical pressure has prompted India and the UK to seek a robust bilateral trade framework to mitigate potential economic impacts.

Key issues on the negotiation table include reducing tariffs on British whisky—a longstanding demand from the UK—and facilitating business visas to enhance corporate mobility between the two nations. While immigration remains off the agenda, both sides recognize the importance of addressing business travel to foster economic collaboration.