India-UK Free Trade Pact No Longer Has A Diwali Deadline: UK Minister
NDTV
India-UK Free Trade Agreement: "We are close. We're still working on a deal. One of the things that has changed is that we are no longer working to the Diwali deadline," UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch told the BBC.
The free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India are no longer working towards a Diwali deadline, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has confirmed.
During a visit to a Scotch whisky distillery on Thursday, the Cabinet minister in charge of the FTA negotiations at the Department for International Trade (DIT) said the deal being lined up with India would bring great wins for the industry as the steep tariffs of up to 150 per cent are set to be slashed.
However, while the negotiations are progressing well, signing a draft agreement by October 24 is no longer the goal.
"We are close. We're still working on a deal. One of the things that has changed is that we are no longer working to the Diwali deadline," Badenoch told the BBC.