British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to London as the two leaders formally signed a long-anticipated UK-India Free Trade Agreement, expected to deliver a £25.5 billion boost to bilateral trade.
The agreement, first announced in May, marks a significant milestone in economic relations between two of the world’s largest economies—India and the UK, currently ranked fifth and sixth globally, respectively. The UK government estimates the deal will contribute an additional £4.8 billion ($6.5 billion) annually to Britain’s economy.
Describing the pact as a “major win for Britain,” Starmer said the trade deal would support jobs and enhance economic growth at a time when the UK is grappling with sluggish growth and persistent inflation.
The accord will cut tariffs on a wide range of goods: UK exports to India—such as whisky, cosmetics, and medical devices—will become more competitive, while Indian exports like clothing, footwear, food items, and frozen prawns will face reduced tariffs in the UK.
Modi, on his fourth visit to the UK since taking office in 2014, emphasized the deepening strategic and economic ties between the two nations. “Our economic partnership has achieved significant momentum,” he said before departing India. “We aim to further enhance prosperity, growth, and job creation in both countries.”
In addition to the trade talks, Modi is scheduled to meet King Charles III during his brief visit.
However, the visit is not without controversy. Starmer is under pressure to raise sensitive diplomatic issues, including last month’s Air India disaster that claimed the lives of 241 people, including 52 British nationals. The London-bound flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, marking one of the deadliest aviation tragedies involving British citizens.
Grieving families have raised concerns over the identification process of the victims’ remains. James Healy-Pratt, a lawyer representing 20 British families, revealed that some families were given incorrect or mixed remains, with one coffin reportedly containing the body of a different individual altogether.
Another pressing human rights issue involves Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish Sikh blogger detained in India since 2017 on terrorism charges. Despite no conviction and the dismissal of one of nine charges in March, Johal remains imprisoned. His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, urged Starmer to address the matter directly with Modi, calling it “high on the agenda.”
Starmer and Modi have met twice in the past year, including at the G7 summit in Canada and the G20 in Brazil, but this latest meeting cements a new phase of bilateral cooperation with a deal set to reshape trade flows between the two nations.
