- Monday, March 03, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Amid a diplomatic row following protests staged by secessionist groups at the Indian high commission in London, India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday (30) said talks between the two nations on the free-trade agreement (FTA) were continuing.
Talks are “going on very well” with the UK, he said, adding, “trade stands on its own legs”.
The minister, however, made it clear that India will take into consideration respect for her sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will not tolerate any interference in its Indian affairs.
When asked about the impact of the ongoing events on the trade agreement, Goyal seemed to suggest that negotiations continue.
“I can assure you that talks are going on very well with the UK, Canada, with the EU countries, we are also in dialogue with Israel,” he told reporters in Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra.
Goyal said there was no deadline to have an FTA with the UK, but a former prime minister of the country has announced an aspiration to conclude before Diwali of 2022.
“…we are back at the negotiating table, both sides are discussing at the official level,” he said.
Goyal said there is a high interest for FTAs with India shown by many countries, and discussions are on at a “frenzied pace” with many countries, and quipped that he is not left with the bandwidth to discuss such agreements.
Meanwhile, Goyal also said that talks are also on with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), following a request from four ministers of the grouping to meet him.
“They have assured me that they will be coming with very attractive proposals in terms of opening up services and a deeper understanding of India’s own concerns around our patent laws and the need to protect our domestic industry,” Goyal said.
On a query on rupee trade with partners, and if the same is being pushed with G20 countries during the ongoing meetings of the grouping’s trade and investment group in the financial capital, Goyal said the subject is more of a bilateral subject, which is anchored by India’s central bank and the finance ministry.
He added that many countries have evinced interest in having such an arrangement with India.
Goyal attended a dinner meeting with 100 delegates attending the G20 meeting in the financial capital on Wednesday evening and addressed the delegates at the closing event later on Thursday.
(With PTI inputs)
