The ongoing negotiations of India for the proposed comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK and European Union (EU) are on track and the next round of talks with both regions will happen soon, a top government official said on Monday.
India has recently concluded the sixth round of talks with the UK and third round with the EU.
"The seventh round with the UK and the fourth round with the EU will be held very soon. Both the trade agreements are on track," the official said.
The official added that both agreements are comprehensive in nature and include goods, services, investments, labour, environment and sustainability.
All these issues require a lot of unanimity among the negotiating countries and these talks are complex exercises.
"Last time when the UK negotiating team was here, we had a good understanding. Now there is a much better understanding. Both the teams are negotiating at a convenient speed and pace and a lot of issues are being settled between the two teams," the official said.
Negotiations with the UK started on January 13 last year.
The bilateral trade between the two countries increased to $17.5 billion in 2021-22 compared to $13.2 billion in 2020-21. India's exports stood at $10.5 billion in 2021-22, while imports were $7 billion.
After a gap of over eight years, India and the EU formally resumed negotiations on the proposed agreement on June 17, 2022.
India's bilateral trade with the European Union rose by 43.5 per cent to USD 116.36 billion in 2021-22.
When asked about India's demand for the resumption of exports benefits by the US under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the official said India would welcome if it would be resumed by America.
"We had requested the US during the meeting of trade policy forum...The US has to take the call. It would help enhance the competitiveness of our exporters," the official added.
The GSP is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.
Under the programme, nearly 2,000 products including auto components and textile materials can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress.
In 2019, the US withdrew these benefits.
When asked about the issue of Iran stopping imports of tea and rice from India, another senior official said that it was a temporary measure.
"I believe that some rice exports have started," the official said.
On the issue of under-invoicing of Chinese imports in India, the department of commerce has flagged the matter with its finance counterpart.
"We have received feedback that the finance ministry is taking actions. On some consignments from China, risk profiling to identify those consignments which are under-invoicing. Some seizures are happening. We are waiting for some feedback from the finance ministry," the official said.
On India-Russia trade, the official said India has taken up issues of domestic exporters with regard to market access and standards with Russia.
"We will be pushing exports of electronic items in Russia. India is also pushing rupee trade with Russia," the official added.
Countries including Russia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are keen to have rupee trade with India.
(PTI)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)