Negotiations were put on hold last year as both countries held general elections. For British PM Keir Starmer, a deal with India is part of his plan to revive the UK economy.
Malé has been facing a liquidity crisis. Last year, India rolled over $100 mn worth of loans, while offering roughly $750 mn in currency swap lines to support neighbouring country.
Paulo Rangel, on first official visit to India, emphasises that ties in the world will become 'transactional' in the next few years with incoming Trump administration in US.
Even after nine rounds of negotiations since 2022, the two sides are grappling with ‘fundamental differences’. For India, EU labour laws & environmental norms have become barriers.
India and 4 member countries of European Free Trade Association have held 13 rounds of negotiations between 2008 & 2013. Negotiations were placed on hold before resuming in October 2016.
India & EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are negotiating Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) that is likely to be finalized within next few weeks.
India-UK FTA talks started in 2022 and its 13th round of negotiations ended in Dec, with both sides resolving that they would aim for a comprehensive and ambitious trade pact.
Sultan and PM of Oman Haitham bin Tarik's India visit is 1st by an Omani ruler in 26 years. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including 7 cabinet ministers & 3 vice ministers.
Asking Goa to give up 4% of a river’s flow to help parched districts seems reasonable, moral. But it masks a deeper ethical problem: who bears the burden of the ‘greater common good’?
SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.
India exited the Indo-Russian FGFA programme in 2018. But now it might procure at least 2 squadrons of Su-57 aircraft from Russia and evaluate Russian proposal to manufacture them in India.
Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.
India must get the best possible deal out of this. Because UK is under tremendous pressure due to President Trump’s threat of tariffs. As such, India must squeeze UK to get the best possible terms of trade.
If I were the prime minister of India, I will implement 100% free trade on all products with all countries. I will crash market to bring down the prices and make consumers the kings and queens. Imagine motor fuel for ₹10/ litre. Iphones for ₹30000, fruit and vegetables for ₹30.
India must get the best possible deal out of this. Because UK is under tremendous pressure due to President Trump’s threat of tariffs. As such, India must squeeze UK to get the best possible terms of trade.
If I were the prime minister of India, I will implement 100% free trade on all products with all countries. I will crash market to bring down the prices and make consumers the kings and queens. Imagine motor fuel for ₹10/ litre. Iphones for ₹30000, fruit and vegetables for ₹30.