Public sentiment reflects cautious optimism about the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), acknowledging its potential economic benefits while voicing concerns over agricultural subsidies, immigration issues, and domestic market impacts. There's broad recognition of the agreement's strategic importance but a tempered enthusiasm due to fears of job security and market disruption.

India

European Union

Now that the US imposed tariffs it’s a race to see if China or India can compensate for loss of market by dumping cheap goods on Europe instead. Tariffs are the only reason Modi and Xi met. They need each other now more than ever.

Typingdude3

We should definitely deepen our ties with India. We can also tell Modi diplomatically that it is better for the whole world that Russia ends the war. India knows this and is in talks with Moscow in this regard. 

Illustrious-Syrup509

I think Europ need to be smart now. I don't think we should ignore India. We are in a moment of the biggest geopolitical earthquake. 
I don't think following US blindly is a great idea. 

If it would be me I would talk to India and support them but put pressure on helping to end the war with Ukraine.

nimdull

India is playing everyone for itself instead of working with others for peace. So no Deal, if anything, we need a good look at what we order and bring that in-house.

Level-Associate-2896

[deleted]

Any partnership with Russia and China will be huge blocks with any partnership with the EU. Playing footsie with them as a result of the enemy-of-my-enemy move against the US wasn't exactly wise, IMO. That is why the EU never pivoted to China from a trade perspective, or moved on matters of Taiwan or actions in the South China sea.  The lack of strategic ambiguity means India would have partly painted themselves in this corner, or that corner - you still could have given Donnie the finger without two variants of a bad choice. And Russia... well, huge first-order level type of mistake.

steve_ample

The EU has the same problems the US has with India, it's markets are closed to them. NTB's and tariffs for thee but none for me. Outside of some handshakes and headlines, this probably will not go anywhere when it comes time to ink anything out.

chrisjinna

This is all good but man please just unban aliexpress I have had to throw away so many things because I couldn't find parts for them. My childhood Gameboy body broke in 2 pieces, my Nintendo ds same thing my n3ds xl display went bad, skullscandy headphones which I bought for 10k it's hinge broke so it was unusable and now my Sony wh h900n headphones which also costed my 10k it's charging board is bad but the service center won't repair it and I can't find the part anywhere. Parts for all of this items are available on aliexpress but they won't ship to India.

that1-_guy

Okay now let the chinese investments come in now, fdi fell by 96% from 2023-24 to 2024-25, curbing chinese investments isn't going to help the economy we need all the investment we can get to develop the country having bad relation with china won't help, china has money we need money do joint ventures with chinese companies learn from them then manufacture your own there's no other way india needs to this now any more delay will be too late to develop our own manufacturing. We need good relations with china for 10-15 years, seeing the USA administration the USA won't help india get manufacturing seeing how he is hellbent on moving manufacturing to USA and destroy BRICS. IN VERY SIMPLE TERMS WE NEED CHINA RIGHT NOW IF NOT NOW THEN NEVER.

Trade is good but crony capitalism is deadly

Life_Machine_9694

&gt;That sometimes happened in creative ways. After Goyal told them he was a huge fan of Yes Minister, British negotiators brought him a handwritten note from Jonathan Lynn, one of the show’s co-creators.


The article goes in great detail about how scratching these arseholes' backs was what clinched the deal. 


TL;DR: they didn't care about the country's interests after their British masters made them feel good about themselves. You bet UK gains far more out of this than India, and Indian public gets fucked. 

charavaka

Chinese investments are worst for India. all of their phone companies just want to sell in India while samsung and apple want to export from India

settayi

Snapshot of _UK and India agree 90% of free trade agreement_ :

An archived version can be found [here](https://archive.is/?run=1&amp;url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/09/we-are-nearly-there-uk-and-india-agree-90-of-free-trade-agreement)  or [here.](https://archive.ph/?run=1&amp;url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/09/we-are-nearly-there-uk-and-india-agree-90-of-free-trade-agreement)         


*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ukpolitics) if you have any questions or concerns.*

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"A government source told the Guardian that mobility, which involves visas for Indian workers and has been one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations, had largely been resolved."

This is the big sticking point. I hope the visa's will be kept to a minimum. But we'll see.

Rat-king27

Let me guess, our "negotiators" will have been walked all over and will have caved into nearly every demand, but will have secured a single "win" such as India eliminating tariffs for cheddar cheese or something else they don't actually import from us

I’m a CS graduate next year and my god I am not looking forward to the next 10 years. What’s even the point

P1SSW1ZARD

I hope this won't mean the UK will soon be flooded and outcompeted by immigrants.

Morteca

&gt; A government source told the Guardian that mobility, which involves visas for Indian workers and has been one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations, had largely been resolved.

Fuck sake, do they want Reform or worse?

madeleineann

If the government allows a significant influx of Indian immigrants into the UK, it risks pushing the country toward the extreme far right-beyond figures like Nigel Farage, toward a more radical faction. If those in power cannot negotiate a deal without compromising on such a critical issue, they lack the competence and legitimacy to hold their positions. The UK is plagued by inept politicians and civil servants, utterly incapable and appointed on misguided or superficial grounds.

FluidLock1999

Oh oh...extra 200k visa a year from just 1 country. 

Cautious-Twist8888

Oh god not another 500k immigrants a year. We have enough Indian takeaways and deliveroo drivers.

Metori

This is what Brexit was really all about, businesses getting cheap labour from India as the Polish are richer than us now.

jib_reddit

I would rather starve and live in poverty than have a free trade agreement with India. Oh wait, I'm gonna get both.

Philluminati

&gt;A government source told the Guardian that mobility, which involves visas for Indian workers and has been one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations, had largely been resolved.

Translated: they caved in to their absurd demands like Australia did. Have a look at the mobility deal Australia has with India as a part of their trade deal and you'll see what's coming https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/out-of-kilter-indian-migrants-fuel-surge-as-labor-struggles-to-rein-in-numbers/news-story/b2495b48a8c78afcff09a6cd732ee5f6

There are already 150k Indians coming on work visas every year, the shopping/retail experience in places like London has become nightmarish over the last 4-5 years because of this. This better be an amazing deal economically or it will backfire massively

Tiberinvs

If immigration continues to increase, it'd show that the UK government doesn't care about the declining standard of living in Britain nor the housing crisis, and that we are simply expected to "accept a decision they know voters would be adamantly against".

fungussa

Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed!

Any_Perspective_577

Rachel.... Mate...  I could agree 95% of a deal before lunch.

  
I think you'll find the last 5% is what takes years to agree - and the fact that you've only set yourself at 90% is telling that you're nowhere near yet.

OwlNumber9

why are we cosying up to India?

They are Russian aligned and devalue our most valuable industries with cheap sub standard labour like coding

MazrimReddit

UK electorate agree to Reform being next government if this ends up increasing migration from India

WaterMittGas

I don't want our cities as densely populated as Mumbai, but it seems that's the way we're heading.

High-Tom-Titty

Great just want me need in the UK. Low skilled Indian immigrants in our country.

PoodleBoss

Given Labour negotiate by giving away the house...i'm not optimistic.

disordered-attic-2

On an unrelated note, we really should look at removing the vote from commonwealth citizens.

Choo_Choo_Bitches

IMO we shouldn't be that friendly with a country that happily buys up all the Russian oil to fund their war in Ukraine.

duckrollin

Look India, you’re a regional power with a modern military, nuclear weapons, a space program that has missions that had made it to mars. A high english literacy rate, aeguably a giant of tech and TATA controlling a lot of our steel and cars.

You should not be expecting more handouts from the UK, look after your citizens and welcome yourselves into the 21st century.

Iamthe0c3an2

Just in case the Tories try and spin this as “more immigrants on Labours watch” a lot of the proper work was done pre 2024. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-india-sign-ground-breaking-partnership-migration-deal

Izual_Rebirth

This is what referendums are for. And we need one here

MrFlaneur17

If the UK handwaves even more visas into the country, that alone will guarantee a Tory/Reform victory in 2029. It won't matter what improvements Labour make elsewhere in the economy. That's all people will care about.

Griffolion

First they came for our tradies, and I said, "Suka".

Then they came for our IT, and I said, "Kutiyā"

Then they came for me and I said, "Minimum wage already mate"

OutsideYaHouse

So no progress after 2 years and still stuck on difficult bits

JustAhobbyish

Who needs Europe when India is barely on the other side of the world?

schtickshift

Remember everyone, downplay any positive aspects of this and remember to talk down the UK and bring up Brexit as often as possible.

IgnoranceIsTheEnemy

High-stakes negotiations are underway for a comprehensive India-EU Free Trade Agreement addressing contentious issues.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

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What the people want