British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for the rapid implementation of the UK’s landmark trade deal with India, saying it should take effect as soon as humanly possible.
The Labour leader made the remarks on Wednesday as he began a two-day visit to India, accompanied by more than 100 business, culture, and university leaders.
The free trade agreement, signed in July during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London, is the largest post-Brexit trade pact secured by Britain.
It aims to cut tariffs on key goods such as whisky, textiles, and cars, while expanding market access for both countries’ businesses.
Recall negotiations concluded in May after three years of stop-start talks, with both sides pushing to finalise the deal amid global trade tensions.
The agreement is expected to increase bilateral trade between the two nations the world’s fifth and sixth-largest economies by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) by 2040. Officials say that figure represents a baseline for potential growth.
Speaking to delegates in Mumbai, Starmer said the deal offered huge opportunities and that his government was committed to helping firms capitalise on them.
“I’ve asked my team to implement this deal as quickly as humanly possible, Our job is to make it easier for you to seize the opportunities already opening up.”
Starmer is due to hold bilateral talks with Modi on Thursday, with both leaders expressing hope to ratify the deal within the next year.
The visit comes as Starmer seeks to strengthen the UK’s global trade relationships and drive economic growth ahead of a challenging November budget.
The Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, urged the prime minister to avoid new business taxes and to deepen ties with India and the Gulf, saying, “Britain must pursue trade opportunities globally while managing wider economic pressures.”
