12th round of India, UK free trade agreement talks to begin from August 7

Aug 02, 2023,

The main issues which could come up for discussions in this round include an investment treaty, reduction of duties on auto and whiskey and matters about services, the official said

Press Trust of IndiaNew Delhi

As India and the UK are close to concluding negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), chief negotiators of both countries will hold the 12th round of talks from August 7 here, an official said.

Both sides are looking at concluding the talks before the end of the year.

The main issues which could come up for discussions in this round include an investment treaty, reduction of duties on auto and whiskey, and matters about services, the official said.

The 11th round of talks was concluded last month. For that round, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal visited London and took stock of the negotiations.

Out of the total 26 chapters in the FTA, 19 have been closed. Investment is being negotiated as a separate agreement (bilateral investment treaty) between India and the UK and it would be concluded simultaneously with the free trade agreement.

In the rules of origin chapters, product-specific rules are being negotiated which include value-addition norms for each product category, changes in chapter heading, and certification.

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