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UK to target India’s middle classes for new trade deal

The UK is set to target India’s middle classes in a trade deal with a focus on whisky, British-made cars and services. Talks over a free trade agreement with India are intended to start in the autumn. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has launched a 14-week consultation to gather views from the public and businesses before talks begin. The UK government is seeking new trading partners in the wake of Brexit.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been due to travel to India in April to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The trip had to be cancelled due to the surge of coronavirus cases in India, which has since led to a rise in India variant cases in the UK. Earlier this month, India and Britain committed to a deeper relationship over the decade in an array of areas and separately announced a trade deal worth £1 billion ($1.38bn).The UK is set to target India’s middle classes in a trade deal with a focus on whisky, British-made cars and services.

Talks over a free trade agreement with India are intended to start in the autumn. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has launched a 14-week consultation to gather views from the public and businesses before talks begin. The UK government is seeking new trading partners in the wake of Brexit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been due to travel to India in April to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The trip had to be cancelled due to the surge of coronavirus cases in India, which has since led to a rise in India variant cases in the UK.

“Our research shows that people want trade deals that prioritise high food, product, data protection and environmental standards and deliver for consumers in all parts of the UK. The success of future agreements will be judged on what they deliver for ordinary people in their everyday lives, not just the trade opportunities they provide.”

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