UK PM sets Diwali deadline for FTA to double India trade

Thanks Govt For Lifting Tariffs On Apples

Indicating his keenness for a trade agreement with India, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday set an ambitious target of clinching a deal by Diwali, minutes after PM Narendra Modi spoke of a year-end deadline for negotiators from both countries.

"Teams from both countries are working on an FTA (free trade agreement) and there is good progress. We have decided to attempt to finalize the FTA by the year-end. In the last few months, India has signed FTAs with UAE and Australia. We would want to move with the same pace and commitment with the UK too," Modi said at a joint press conference, as he pitched for investments in infrastructure.

India had finalized a trade pact with the UAE in less than 90 days, and it just took six months for New Delhi and Canberra to seal a deal.