Key facts
- UK and India agreed on a free trade deal in May 2025.
- Indian officials raised concerns about upcoming British steel trade measures.
- UK Trade Minister Peter Kyle stated the deal will not be reopened.
- Kyle hinted that the implementation of the trade deal might be delayed.
- Britain currently faces no new U.S. tariffs related to forced labor.
UK Trade Minister Peter Kyle stated that discussions regarding the implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) with India are progressing rapidly and positively. He indicated that the FTA, agreed upon in May 2025 and signed two months later, would not be reopened, despite concerns raised by Indian officials about upcoming British steel trade measures. Kyle suggested that the implementation of the deal, initially expected within about a year, might occur later in the year, possibly in autumn, which would still represent the fastest implementation period for any British trade deal. He also addressed potential U.S. tariffs related to forced labor, noting that Washington acknowledged the UK's efforts and that Britain currently faces no new tariffs. The comments were made after returning from talks in Delhi and speaking at a trade dinner in London. Business Secretary Peter Kyle declined to set a timeline to bring into force Britain's free trade agreement with India after the Asian nation warned UK steel safeguards could prompt a rethink of tariff concessions.