India-UK Free Trade Agreement will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer. Ahead of the signing ceremony, Mr Starmer said, "Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses and drive growth in every corner of the country, delivering on our Plan for Change."

"We’re putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Brits and helping families with the cost of living, and we’re determined to go further and faster to grow the economy and raise living standards across the UK." he added.

India's average tariff on UK products will drop from 15 per cent to 3 per cent under the to-be-signed India-UK FTA, a British government statement said just ahead of the scheduled signing ceremony in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer.

The UK statement asserted that British companies selling products to India -- from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices -- will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.

Further, British whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and then dropped even further to 40 per cent over the next ten years - giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market, the UK statement noted.

🔴Watch #LIVE | PM Modi, UK PM Keir Starmer Meet in London#PMModiInLondon https://t.co/AoOjzTtzEP

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2025

Ahead of signing a free trade agreement with India, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared what the trade deal would mean.

"A landmark deal with India means jobs, investment and growth here in the UK. It creates thousands of British jobs, unlocks new opportunities for businesses and puts money in the pockets of working people," Mr Starmer wrote in a post on X.

A landmark deal with India means jobs, investment and growth here in the UK.
It creates thousands of British jobs, unlocks new opportunities for businesses and puts money in the pockets of working people.
That’s our Plan for Change in action. https://t.co/fU9Nx98Wht

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 24, 2025

A free trade agreement is an arrangement between two or more countries where they agree either to end or reduce customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides cutting down non-trade barriers on a significant value of imports from partner countries and easing norms to promote services exports and bilateral investments.

The subjects covered under these pacts range between 10 to 30. Across the globe, over 350 FTAs are currently in force and most of the nations have signed one or more such agreements.

Touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in the UK. Their affection and passion towards India’s progress is truly heartening. pic.twitter.com/YRdLcNTWSS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025

For 200 years, Britain shaped India's trade rules to its advantage - plundering raw materials, taxing salt, killing industries in the name of "free markets". Now, as post-Brexit UK shops around for friends, India has become a prized dance partner.

Protecting and promoting the "Band India"-- from Kohlapuri Chappals to Banarasi and Chanderi textiles-- is a massive priority in the India-UK Free Trade Agreement set to be signed on Thursday in London.

Scripting a new beginning in the 🇮🇳-🇬🇧 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
PM @narendramodi lands in London, on an official visit to the UK.
Bilateral talks with PM @Keir_Starmer & meeting with His Majesty King Charles III @RoyalFamily lie ahead. pic.twitter.com/cOoYEh8Tan

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 23, 2025

Landed in London.
This visit will go a long way in advancing the economic partnership between our nations. The focus will be on furthering prosperity, growth and boosting job creation for our people.
A strong India-UK friendship is essential for global progress. pic.twitter.com/HWoXAE9dyp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025

#WATCH | London, UK | After meeting PM Modi, member of the Indian diaspora, Shreya Pareek, says, "...I came here to meet PM Modi. I am glad that I got that opportunity... I want to congratulate him for Operation Sindoor and all the other things he is doing for India..." pic.twitter.com/LIJNoaEs26

— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2025

#WATCH | Luton, UK | On PM Modi's visit, a member of the Indian Diaspora says, "... We're incredibly excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the US. As Dawoodi Bohras, we are very proud of the relationship that the Prime Minister has with our community. He's been a friend of… pic.twitter.com/wxj6QYZy2z

— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2025

"... We're incredibly excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the US. As Dawoodi Bohras, we are very proud of the relationship that the Prime Minister has with our community. He's been a friend of our community for many years. And as a proud Dawoodi Bohra and as a British citizen, we welcome him to the UK and look forward to meeting him..."

(ANI)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to host PM Narendra Modi for the talks at Chequers, the official country residence of the British prime minister that is located 50 km northwest of London.

(PTI)

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in London, United Kingdom. He is on an official visit to the United Kingdom from 23–24 July
PM Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with UK PM Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange… pic.twitter.com/ICM48iN9Dt

— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday kick-started his two-day visit to the UK to expand the bilateral ties in areas of defence, trade and technology with the formalisation of the landmark India-UK free trade deal set to be a major outcome of his trip.

(PTI)

A year on from the India-Maldives diplomatic storm - precipitated by comments about Prime Minister Modi by three Maldivian ministers, and red flags after the island nation turned towards China - ties between the nations seem to have become better.

PM Modi is set to be greeted by cheering groups of community leaders, students and parliamentarians gathered in anticipation on the outskirts of London. They expressed excitement around the FTA that is expected to be signed during the bilateral discussions between PM Modi and British PM Keir Starmer on Thursday.

(PTI)

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives will boost Indian exports and promote regional stability in the Indian Ocean region.

FIEO President SC Ralhan said that this visit comes at a pivotal moment of Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations reaching the final stages.

(IANS)

Former Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, while talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Maldives on July 25-26, expressed contentment at the thawing of frozen ties between the two nations.

Shahid said that the strain was unfortunate and was due to the incorrect narrative of the current government.

(ANI)

British Indian businessman Lord Rami Ranger on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership while terming the possible signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as "a major development" and a "win-win situation" for both India and the United Kingdom.

(IANS)

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the free trade agreement between India and the UK, which will be signed in London on July 24, sources said.

India and the United Kingdom will sign a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom. This comes after nearly three years of negotiations.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynolds would sign the agreement. Once the pact is signed, it will require approval from the British Parliament before it can take effect. The process may take about a year.

India and the UK will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday in London that will allow export of labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing at concessional rates, while making imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper.

The pact also helps double trade between the two economies to $120 billion by 2030.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for London, United Kingdom on Wednesday. During the visit, he will hold discussions with UK PM Starmer on India-UK bilateral relations and will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In the second leg of the tour, PM Modi will undertake a state visit to Maldives from July 25-26 at the invitation of Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. This marks PM Modi's third visit to the island nation and the first by any head of state or government during President Muizzu's tenure.

"The two leaders will also take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership', adopted during the State Visit of the President of Maldives to India in October 2024," said MEA.

Significantly, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives on July 26. His visit underlines India's commitment to strengthening ties with its maritime neighbours under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR.

The leaders are expected to assess progress in key areas including infrastructure, defence cooperation, and economic connectivity. The high-profile diplomatic engagements aim to reinforce India's global outreach while reaffirming its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region and beyond.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour of the UK and the Maldives on Wednesday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at bolstering strategic partnerships and regional cooperation. 

PM Modi's visit to the UK, scheduled for July 23–24, comes at the invitation of British counterpart Keir Starmer and will be his fourth trip to the country.

“During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in its press release.

The discussions will also touch upon regional and global developments of mutual concern.

The visit is expected to inject new momentum into the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with both leaders aiming to review progress and chart new areas of cooperation, including India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

PM Modi is also likely to call on King Charles III during his stay.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day State visit to Maldives this week will not only contribute further to consolidating strong ties between the two nations but also enhance peace, prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday. Both countries, he revealed, are also in discussions to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement and an investment treaty.

Prime Minister Modi will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July 25-26, on the invitation of the Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu. This will be Prime Minister Modi's third visit to Maldives - he had visited the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2018 and 2019, earlier - and the first by a Head of State or Government to Maldives during the Presidency of Muizzu which began in November 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom on 23rd July for discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the finalisation of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the free trade agreement between India and the UK, which will be signed in London on July 24, sources told news agency PTI. The pact, officially called as Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, will be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to London.

PM Modi's four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives begins on Wednesday. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany the prime minister. The two countries announced the conclusion of the negotiations for the trade agreement on May 6.