A spokesman for the United Kingdom was asked whether the UK government was making a trade deal with India conditional on taking back a “significant” number of illegal immigrants. Image for representation only. Photo Credit: AP
finalize a trade agreement with india The British government on Wednesday said that India is not dependent on taking back Indians living in Britain illegally.
“On the separate issue of migration and return, we have made great progress on that issue, especially after the agreement between Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi and [U.K.] Prime Minister [Boris] Johnson in May last year, and cooperation on that also continues. But they are separate issues,” a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the foreign press at a Wednesday afternoon briefing.
The spokesperson was responding to a question on whether the UK government is making a trade deal with India conditional on taking back a “significant” number of illegal immigrants.
what the comments contradict Home Secretary Suella Braverman said Regarding the Migration and Mobility Partnership in October (i.e., the Protocol signed by Mr. Modi and Mr. Johnson in May 2021) the audience, when she was in the same role in the Liz Truss administration. Ms Braverman had said that the protocol had not worked very well and that she had some doubts over aspects of the UK-India ‘Free Trade Agreement’ (FTA), namely the question of visa flexibility for students and entrepreneurs, as Indian Largest group of overstayers in UK
Ms Braverman’s comments contributed to the collapse of the talks by the Diwali deadline. The Indian High Commission in London had reacted by saying that it had processed all cases of overstays referred to by the UK Home Office. A few days later, Ms Braverman contradicted some of her comments by saying that the UK and India were “keen” to get a deal. Mr. Modi and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have also committed to concluding an agreement after Mr. Sunak takes office at the end of October.
His spokesman said on Wednesday that there had been no change in the UK government’s negotiating strategy since Mr Sunak took office, both in terms of UK-India trade talks and the UK’s negotiations on the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans For accepting. Pacific Partnership).
Sixth round of trade talks in December
According to UK officials, a sixth round of trade talks is due in December.
“After five formal rounds of talks and intensive talks throughout the autumn, a sixth round is due to take place in India in December to continue the talks,” the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) reported. Hindu Wednesday via email.
“We will only sign an agreement that is fair, reciprocal and ultimately in the best interest of both countries,” he said.