Let’s get the deal done, says Boris on India FTA

India-UK trade increased by 28%, says the former British PM; ties will further strengthen with Roadmap 2030 finalised with Prime Minister Modi, he adds

NEW DELHI: Former British prime minister Boris Johnson on Saturday made a strong pitch for the speedy conclusion of the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), including steps to remove high tariffs on British products such as Scotch whisky and automobiles, and to ensure mobility of Indian professionals.

“Let’s get it [FTA] done,” Johnson said several times during his speech and a Q&A session with HT’s editor-inchief R Sukumar at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, pointing to the enormous opportunities that the deal will open up for businesses and “hardpressed consumers” in both countries.

Johnson described the emergence of Rishi Sunak as Britain’s first prime minister of Indian descent as a “fantastic thing”, not just in terms of what it said about British society but also because it showed that the ruling Conservative Party – which produced three women prime ministers and the first premier of South Asian origin – as the pre-eminent party of opportunity and hope in the UK.

India and the UK missed the deadline to conclude the FTA by Diwali, which was celebrated on October 24, because of differences on several key issues, including the Indian demand for greater mobility for students and professionals and the British call for greater market access in certain areas and for lowering tariffs on items such as Scotch whisky.

“Let us finally deliver that FTA, which mysteriously seems to have developed a flat tyre since I left office,” Johnson said. Pointing to the earlier Diwali deadline, he added,

“I’m not going to wait till the next Diwali before we do that free trade deal.”

While questioning whether the “Indian dairy lobby” is determined to keep out British cheese and the 150% tariff on Scotch whisky, which he described as ridiculous and absurd, Johnson asked: “Why should British consumers be deprived of good value footwear made in India?”

At the same time, it will be good for India to get better access to the UK finance and capital markets, while Britain can benefit from the talents of

Indian software programmers.

“Let’s take all this to the next level, let’s get that free trade deal done because it is the height of insanity that we have beautiful British Jaguars and Land Rovers made in the West Midlands facing huge tariffs – 125% tariffs – on import into India when Jaguar Land Rover is owned by a great Indian company,” he said.

People familiar with the matter have said the India-UK FTA is unlikely to be finalised till 2023, largely because of the recent political turmoil

HT PHOTO Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson at the HT Leadership Summit on Saturday.