Key sticking points in the talks include the UK’s push for greater access to India’s telecom, legal and financial sectors as well as India’s desire for a more liberal migration policy for its skilled workers.
Mr Goyal defended India’s tariff policy, citing the need to protect against unfair trade practices, but acknowledged that India and the UK could lower tariffs for competitiveness.
“We are delighted to note the progress on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations,” Richard Heald, chair of the UK India Business Council, said in a statement ahead of the ministerial meeting.
UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds met Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi to restart discussions on a “balanced, ambitious and mutually beneficial” deal.
India and the UK have resumed talks to strike a free trade deal after a year-long pause due to elections in both countries.
