Discover the key events leading to the finalization of the India-UK free trade agreement (AFT), including the launch, negotiations and conclusion agreements.
May 4, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (then) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched an “improved commercial partnership” (FTE) to release the commercial potential between the two economies. As part of the ETP, they agreed with a roadmap to negotiate a complete and balanced ALE.
January 13, 2022:
The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, launched the negotiations of the free trade agreements with the United Kingdom with (then) British Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan in New Delhi.
The two parties agreed to start the first series of negotiations from January 17 to 28 and to hold future cycles of negotiations approximately every five weeks.
Jan 2022 – January 2025:
In total, 14 series of negotiations took place between officials from the two countries.
March 2024:
Negotiations have been interrupted due to the Indian general elections; The two parties agreed to resume discussions after the elections.
February 2025:
Goyal and the British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds announced the resumption of negotiations. He resumed after a gap of more than eight months due to the elections in Great Britain.
April 28, 2025:
Goyal went to London for AFT talks with his British counterpart, the secretary of business and commerce Jonathan Reynolds.
May 2, 2025:
Goyal had discussions again with Reynolds.
May 6, 2025:
India and the United Kingdom have announced the conclusion of negotiations for the ALE, as well as the double contribution agreement pact.
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