UK, India Sign Landmark £6 Billion Trade Deal Boosting Economy

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a landmark UK-India trade deal expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually and create thousands of jobs in both countries. The deal, celebrated as historic by both leaders, reduces tariffs on a wide range of goods, including halving duties on whisky and cutting tariffs on Indian clothing, footwear, and food products to zero on 99% of categories. It also includes concessions on mobility for Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK, though UK officials deny it will increase net migration or undercut British workers. Beyond trade, the agreement signifies a broader strategic partnership aiming to enhance growth, innovation, defense cooperation, border security, climate action, and educational ties through the UK-India Vision 2035 initiative. The pact is considered India's most comprehensive trade deal and the UK's most economically significant bilateral agreement since leaving the EU, with expectations to unlock new business opportunities and consumer benefits. While the deal was approved by the Indian cabinet and signed in the UK, it may take about a year to come into effect after UK parliamentary approval.