The public reaction to the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is largely mixed, marked by cautious optimism and significant skepticism. A faction sees potential for economic growth, improved trade relations, and favorable changes in specific sectors like textiles and whisky. Conversely, many express concerns over possible trade imbalances favoring the UK, historical exploitation echoes, and threats to Indian industries such as generics. Discussions highlight legal, migration, and specific economic fears, amidst a backdrop of geopolitical maneuvering. Sentiment reflects divided perceptions on whether this aligns with India's economic interests or compromises its sovereignty.

India

United Kingdom

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Extreme left parties in foreign countries are unironically better for India than even the Indian-origin leaderships.

CostaBidda

**Summary:**

* **Historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Concluded:** After late-stage negotiations in London, India and the UK have finalized a comprehensive FTA alongside a Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, marking a milestone in their Strategic Partnership.

* **Key Issues Resolved:** The two sides ironed out contentious points on rules of origin, short-term professional visas, and the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—India secured a “rebalancing mechanism” to offset any CBAM-related export losses.

* **Scope and Benefits:**

  * **Goods &amp; Services:** The agreement covers both merchandise and services, aiming to lower tariffs, expand market access, and deepen economic integration.
  * **Textiles &amp; Labour-Intensive Sectors:** Indian textiles, currently facing up to 10% UK tariffs, stand to gain significantly, improving competitiveness against rivals like Bangladesh.
  * **Services Mobility:** Easier movement and short-term visas for Indian professionals will bolster India’s growing services sector.

* **Tariff Reductions:**

  * UK to cut tariffs on Indian exports, leveling the playing field.
  * India to reduce duties on select UK imports (e.g., cars, whisky), though average Indian tariffs (14.6%) remain higher than the UK’s (4.2%).

* **Economic and Employment Impact:** The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade, generate jobs, enhance living standards, and foster innovation and investment in both economies.

* **Next Steps:**

  * Finalization of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) alongside the FTA.
  * Preparations for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming visit to India.

* **Broader Negotiation Context:** This UK deal is the first of several FTAs India is pursuing, including talks with the US, EU, Chile, and Peru, driven by global tariff uncertainties and a desire to diversify trade ties.

Overall, the India-UK FTA represents a balanced, ambitious framework designed to deepen commercial linkages, create new opportunities for businesses, and strengthen people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Source:: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-uk-secure-historic-free-trade-agreement-also-bags-double-contribution-convention-9986182/

BROWN-MUNDA_

Ahh 
As far as I remember  UK is a new islamic state.

Splendid

Gla55_cannon

Is this a full FTA or some temporary shit?

Last I read yesterday was our ministry changed its stance on FTAs.

Weedyoot

How is this a FTA if only cars and whisky is getting their tariffs *reduced?*

circuit_brain

just_spawned_again

vaiku07

Wasn't this historic trade agreement once signed in the 1700s? 

/s

Traditional_Reality4

something-123456789

ironspidy

Is India or Indians getting anything for Free in this deal ?

Idiotsofblr



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* [www.newindianexpress.com](https://archive.is/submit/?submitid=&amp;url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/06/india-uk-successfully-conclude-ambitious-mutually-beneficial-free-trade-agreement)

📣 **[Submission Statement by OP](/r/GeopoliticsIndia/comments/1kg4ke9/india_uk_successfully_conclude_ambitious_mutually/mqvr8sz/)**:
&gt; Submission Statement: India, UK secure ‘historic’ free trade agreement, also bags Double Contribution Convention
&gt;
&gt;Modi also said he was "look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.
&gt;
&gt;India and the United Kingdom have clinched a long-elusive free trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday. Taking to social media platform X, Modi wrote: “Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention.”
&gt;
&gt;Stressing on the importance of the deal, Modi said the “landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies. I look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.” 

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Where are all who were doubting about  Modi govt efforts for trade deal and opening economy??

Submission Statement: India, UK secure ‘historic’ free trade agreement, also bags Double Contribution Convention
Modi also said he was "look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.

India and the United Kingdom have clinched a long-elusive free trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday. Taking to social media platform X, Modi wrote: “Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention.”
Stressing on the importance of the deal, Modi said the “landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies. I look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.”

Live_Replacement_190

India and the United Kingdom concluded on Tuesday a long-coveted free trade pact, in a landmark deal that represents London's most significant post-Brexit agreement that was finalised in the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff increases.

The deal, between the world's fifth and sixth largest economies, has been concluded after three years of stop-start negotiations and aims to increase bilateral trade by a further 25.5 billion pounds ($34 billion) by 2040 with liberal market access and eased trade restrictions.

The deal lowers tariffs on goods such as whisky, advanced manufacturing parts and food products such as lamb, salmon, chocolates and biscuits. It also agrees to quotas on both sides for autos imports.

"We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK's economy," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

After nearly three-and-a-half years of intense negotiations, India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday concluded long-pending pacts — a free trade agreement (FTA) and a double contribution convention, or social security agreement.

These agreements aim to strengthen bilateral ties by reducing tariffs, increasing market access, and simplifying trade norms through the FTA. The social security pact — a long-standing demand from the Indian side — aims to protect the interests of skilled, professional cross-border workers.
 
However, a contentious bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between the two countries remains pending. Both sides have struggled to iron out differences related to the investment pact, mainly over dispute resolution mechanisms

Can someone dumb it down for me on what does free trade agreement includes? Like visas? Electronics? Natural Resources? Foreign mutual fund investment?

thereisnosuch

I recently did some deep research into the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was officially signed on May 6, 2025. I wanted to understand the full context and what this deal actually means beyond the headlines. The agreement was the result of nearly three years of negotiations, and one of the key reasons both countries pushed for it was the tariff-heavy trade environment created by U.S. President Donald Trump. His policies encouraged countries like India and the UK to explore new trade partnerships to reduce their dependence on the U.S. market.

By mid-2024, trade between India and the UK had already reached £42 billion. India exports a lot of goods to the UK, especially in the textile sector. The UK, in turn, serves as a major destination for Indian products. One of the biggest highlights of the FTA is the focus on India’s textile industry, which had exported about £4.5 billion worth of textiles to the UK in 2023. The new trade deal reduces tariffs on these products, which should help them become more affordable and competitive in the British market.

Another big winner from this deal is the UK’s Scotch whisky industry. The current import duty on Scotch in India is 150%, but under the agreement, this will be gradually reduced to 40% over the next ten years. The UK’s Scotch Whisky Association believes this could increase exports to India by £1 billion over the next five years.

During the negotiations, India tried to get an exemption from the UK's upcoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This is a policy that will place extra taxes on imports based on their carbon emissions, particularly affecting industries like steel. However, the UK did not grant India an exemption, which means Indian steel exports could face higher taxes starting in 2027.

The FTA also opens the door for 1,800 Indian professionals to move to the UK each year. These include chefs, musicians, yoga instructors, and others in cultural and creative fields. While this is a positive step for cultural exchange, it has sparked debates in the UK about immigration and workforce planning.

It’s important to note that the financial services sector was not included in this deal. However, a separate bilateral investment treaty is still under negotiation and is expected to address those areas more specifically.

This agreement is part of the UK’s broader post-Brexit trade strategy. Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been trying to build independent trade relationships. Earlier efforts to sign a deal with India had stalled multiple times under four different British prime ministers since 2022, but this time both sides finally managed to close the deal.

India’s pharmaceutical industry also stands to benefit. India exports around £2.8 billion worth of generic medicines to the UK every year, and the FTA aims to make this process smoother by reducing regulatory hurdles. This should help Indian drugmakers enter the UK market more easily.

Besides trade, the deal includes a range of non-trade provisions as well. These cover issues like anti-corruption efforts, gender equality, labor rights, and cultural cooperation. The idea is to promote what both governments are calling a “values-based trade” model.

The agreement is expected to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030. However, this projection depends on how well the agreement is implemented and whether it gets timely approval from the UK Parliament.

Another important point is the role of the Indian diaspora in the UK, which is about 1.9 million strong. This community is seen as a “living bridge” between the two nations and is expected to help boost cooperation in areas like technology, fintech, and pharmaceuticals.

Overall, the deal fits into a larger global strategy. Both countries want to reduce their economic dependence on China and find ways to handle the global impact of U.S. tariffs. This agreement could influence broader international trade discussions within the G20 and WTO over the next couple of years.

Interestingly, the final stage of the talks happened during a last-minute push in London, where Indian and UK trade ministers reportedly resolved the remaining issues while walking through Hyde Park. This human touch shows just how important personal diplomacy can be in global politics.

In short, this FTA is not just about trade. It reflects a mix of economic needs, geopolitical strategy, and shared long-term goals. Its real impact will become clear in the coming years as the agreement is put into practice.

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r/ShareMarketupdates

[deleted]

Great insight! Bow I understand why Radico khaitan price took a hit today! By the way what do you think how’s it going to impact the indian Whisky manufacturers? And you forgot to mention about the import duty cut on imported vehicles like land rover from UK to India!

Creepy-Masterpiece47

Guhan96

bhskrkshk

JayBong2k

Bhai which stocks? I was personally looking at some textile ones and redtape and bata shoes . For vines maybe Sula Vineyards?? But it keeps falling

RepresentativeFew219

In simple terms how it's gonna affect india? And this create racism against Indians in uk

Kinda ironic that Sunak couldn't finalize a trade deal with India, but Starmer does.

Rozaks

Let's hope we flood UK market with Indian products lmao

PlusCardiologist1799

Coffeemugs77

Would this mean 0 import taxes on goods from UK?

anotherreddituser10

I really rooting for Trump. Not because he is 3rd evil person after Musk and Putin in the world, but he may force India to have another ‘91 like moment.

India’s growth was spurred by the reforms in ‘91 when the country was pushed to the wall. In last 5 years we have gradually going back to ‘70s, monopoly/duopoly all around, people choices are getting limited, jobs are vanishing, private investment dwindling.

With the Trump led instability, India may have to again open up to developed countries. Our manufacturing sector will have to jump one level more, consumers will have more choice, investment in India may again grow up.

nuvo_reddit

Our PM needs to stop calling every other president and prime minister his friend 😭

Expensive-Village-49

People on r/unitedkingdom read the news title and automatically assumed that more Indians are gonna shit up their country and steal their jobs lmao.

पश्चिमी ब्रिटिश कंपनी

Anarchy7797

global_decoherence

Can someone please explain why we see this headline every few years? Do trade deals have an expiry or need to be renewed on different terms?

Asking as an Indian in UK.

kidharhaibro

vigrus

Where one can read the details about the FTA deal?

an_iconoclast

Took quite some time. Lets hope we can sign with EU too. That market is much bigger &amp; can help us compete on an equal footing with Asean in EU

Lyx97

Wat about Swaraj? So what all that Gandhi did was for what?

VulcanSpark

Good for the UK that we don’t give India more visas

tony_lasagne

**Summary:**

* **Historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Concluded:** After late-stage negotiations in London, India and the UK have finalized a comprehensive FTA alongside a Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, marking a milestone in their Strategic Partnership.

* **Key Issues Resolved:** The two sides ironed out contentious points on rules of origin, short-term professional visas, and the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—India secured a “rebalancing mechanism” to offset any CBAM-related export losses.

* **Scope and Benefits:**

  * **Goods &amp; Services:** The agreement covers both merchandise and services, aiming to lower tariffs, expand market access, and deepen economic integration.
  * **Textiles &amp; Labour-Intensive Sectors:** Indian textiles, currently facing up to 10% UK tariffs, stand to gain significantly, improving competitiveness against rivals like Bangladesh.
  * **Services Mobility:** Easier movement and short-term visas for Indian professionals will bolster India’s growing services sector.

* **Tariff Reductions:**

  * UK to cut tariffs on Indian exports, leveling the playing field.
  * India to reduce duties on select UK imports (e.g., cars, whisky), though average Indian tariffs (14.6%) remain higher than the UK’s (4.2%).

* **Economic and Employment Impact:** The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade, generate jobs, enhance living standards, and foster innovation and investment in both economies.

* **Next Steps:**

  * Finalization of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) alongside the FTA.
  * Preparations for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming visit to India.

* **Broader Negotiation Context:** This UK deal is the first of several FTAs India is pursuing, including talks with the US, EU, Chile, and Peru, driven by global tariff uncertainties and a desire to diversify trade ties.

Overall, the India-UK FTA represents a balanced, ambitious framework designed to deepen commercial linkages, create new opportunities for businesses, and strengthen people-to-people connections between the two countries.

The most Impressive thing about the deal is that the UK was able to negotiate it without conceding on the point about visas for Indians, which India has been strongly pushing for in trade deals with other nations.
Not sure How many Indians will be driving around in Aston Martins though.

fantasy53

India and the UK have concluded a significant free trade agreement aimed at enhancing economic ties and boosting trade to $100 billion by 2030.

India-UK Free Trade Agreement and Strategic Partnership

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