India

The UK is currently preparing for trade negotiations with India and intends to open these before the end of the year. The UK wants a deal that slashes barriers to doing business and trading with India’s £2 trillion economy and 1.4 billion-strong population. India is projected to become the world’s second largest economy by 2037 and is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, making it a crucial short and long-term trading partner for the UK. HMG recognizes India’s increasing demand for products and services offers significant opportunities for British businesses, but that there are some significant barriers to trade with India. DIT’s consultation on the UK-India FTA closed on the 31^st of August but the department remains keen to engage with and hear the views of business to help shape the UK Government’s approach to negotiations.

To enable the UK’s negotiators to have the maritime sector’s interests best represented, the Department for Transport and Department for International Trade have prepared a series of questions for maritime businesses to consider.