UK and India sign biggest post-Brexit trade deal

5 comments

1. ***The Telegraph reports:***

   The UK has struck a “historic” trade deal with India it says will boost growth by £5bn. 

   The agreement, which comes after three years of negotiations, has been dubbed by the UK Government the “biggest and most economically significant” trade deal since Brexit.

   It will see India, a country renowned for its trade protectionism, reduce nine in ten of their sets of tariffs, with many dropping to zero within a decade.

   Tariffs on UK whisky and gin imports will drop from 150 per cent to 70 per cent before falling to 40 per cent in a decade, with the industry hailing it as a “once in a generation” breakthrough.

   Sir Keir Starmer’s ministers in turn have agreed to drop tariffs on Indian clothes and footwear, giving way on a key demand from Delhi.

   Indian professionals living in Britain will also be spared from paying national insurance in the UK as well as at home for three years, in another concession.

   Government figures are insisting that there has been no change to overall migration policy, with the Home Office closely involved in talks and making the matter a “red line”.

   By 2040 the deal will boost UK economic growth by £4.8bn a year, increase trade between the two countries by £25.5bn a year and raise British wages by £2.2bn a year, according to official estimates released by the UK Government.

   **Read the full story:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/06/uk-and-india-sign-post-brexit-trade-deal/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/06/uk-and-india-sign-post-brexit-trade-deal/)

2. Ahh great, India’s pushing for no WFH and 6.5 day working weeks. Amazing.

3. No NI, now our jobs that don’t go to India can go to Indians living here.

   A good deal for India and for our less scrupulous employers that want to take wages to the absolute bottom. But hey, cheap clothes!

4. Only took nearly a decade after Brexit, but at least it happened under Labour.

5. Swindled again. 

   The UK press releases don’t include the unpopular parts. 

   According to the Indian government:

   – FTA eases mobility for professionals including Contractual Service Suppliers; Business Visitors; Investors; Intra-Corporate Transferees; partners and dependent children of Intra-Corporate Transferees with right to work; and Independent Professionals like yoga instructors, musicians and chefs.

   – Immense opportunities for talented and skilled Indian youth will open up in the UK which is a major global centre for digitally delivered services due to its strong financial and professional services sectors and advanced digital infrastructure.

   – India has secured significant commitments on digitally delivered services for Indian service suppliers, specially in professional services such as architecture and engineering, computer related services and telecommunication services.

   – The exemption for Indian workers who are temporarily in the UK and their employers from paying social security contributions in the UK for a period of three years under the Double Contribution Convention will lead to significant financial gains for the Indian service providers and enhance their competitiveness in the UK

   https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2127321

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