Talks between India and the UK have hit a snag over easier access to thousands of skilled workers from the South Asian nation that is likely to push finalizing a free trade agreement beyond the October deadline.
New Delhi’s position has hardened in the ongoing negotiations amid concerns raised by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on migration from India. The comments made last week prompted India to say both the nations should “honor” the “understanding” with regards to migration mobility.
The deal, when clinched, would be India’s biggest and most ambitious free trade agreement. New Delhi is also seeking to claw back half a billion pounds in payments made by Indian workers toward Britain’s social security system as part of the deal, people familiar with the matter said. Further, UK’s offer to restrict movement of skilled workers would skew the proposed trade deal in favor of Britain and wouldn’t be a win-win for both nations, the people said.
The UK government will not “sacrifice quality for speed, and will only sign when we have a deal that meets both countries’ interests,” said a spokesperson for the Department for International Trade.
“We have a close, positive working relationship with India and a thriving trade partnership worth £24 billion in 2021. We continue to seek improvements to our current trading relationship. This is why we are negotiating a high-ambition Free Trade Agreement,” the spokesperson added.
India’s trade ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment.
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