UKIBC urges tariff cuts ahead of free-trade negotiations

Sign mini pacts that will eventually form a full FTA: Council

The U.K. India Business Council (UKIBC) said it had presented its pre-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) submission to the island nation’s Department for International Trade with recommendations to the U.K. government. FTA negotiations are scheduled to begin later this year. The council said the submission captures inputs from about 200 companies from all parts of the U.K., representing sectors such as digital and data, food and drink, life sciences and healthcare, insurance and financial services, higher education, defence and aerospace, and energy. It has recommended that the negotiations should focus on reducing tariffs, including on alcoholic spirits and medical devices; reducing non-tariff barriers to goods trade, such as by aligning standards, simplifying burdensome and costly customs procedures, and ensuring tax parity between U.K. and Indian businesses.