{"id":117978,"date":"2023-08-27T09:01:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-27T09:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=117978"},"modified":"2023-08-27T09:01:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T09:01:26","slug":"india-to-cut-tariffs-on-whisky-and-cars-in-return-for-british-visa-concessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/politics\/india-to-cut-tariffs-on-whisky-and-cars-in-return-for-british-visa-concessions\/","title":{"rendered":"India ‘to cut tariffs’ on whisky and cars in return for British visa concessions"},"content":{"rendered":"
Brexit Britain stands to receive a major trade deal win as India moves to slash tariffs on Scotch whisky and British cars by at least a third.<\/p>\n
The move would provide a major boost for Rishi Sunak and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who arrived in India last week to launch the 13th round of trade talks.<\/p>\n
Negotiators have now entered what is being described as the \u2018most intense and politically fraught\u2019 stage of the talks, with concessions on services and labour being thrashed out.<\/p>\n
The trade deal stands to be India\u2019s first ever comprehensive trade pact with a developed nation, with both PMs – Narendra Modi and Rishi Sunak – hoping to get it over the line before each country\u2019s 2024 General Elections.<\/p>\n
Reports this morning suggest India is offering to cut tariffs on whisky, a major British export, from 150 to 100 per cent, or up to 75 per cent for bulk exports.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Kemi Badenoch says \u2018global Britain is thriving\u2019 as India trade deal is finalised<\/strong><\/p>\n Britain\u2019s car industry, which currently attracts tariffs as high as 100 per cent, also stands to see major benefits.<\/p>\n In return, Delhi wants movement on lower taxes for companies and workers on short-term visas.<\/p>\n Currently Indians in the UK pay more than \u00a3500 million a year in National Insurance, yet don\u2019t receive a British pension and have to pay twice as India makes them continue paying up back home.<\/p>\n India considers this to be a key \u201csticking point\u201d, with a source telling the Sunday Times Modi\u2019s Government must satisfy India\u2019s business community.<\/p>\n India has already signed agreements with Canada, Australia and France that exempt their workers from making social security contributions in their new country.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The source said: \u201cThe social security agreement is a very important thing for us\u2026 It creates a lot of ill will if folks have to surrender a significant amount of their savings\u201d.<\/p>\n Delhi also wants legal commitments to protect the length of time Indian graduates can stay in the UK after graduating.<\/p>\n This will be politically contentious, given Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently secured a win with an announcement to clampdown on foreign students in the UK, and a limit on the number of family members they can bring here during their studies.<\/p>\n Any concessions on foreign students will threaten progress on Britain\u2019s record high immigration figures, likely dividing Tory MPs.<\/p>\n In October last year it was reported Ms Braverman almost collapsed UK-Indian trade talks after she criticised proposals to relax movement of people with India in order to secure a deal.<\/p>\n She told The Spectator: \u201cI have concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at migration in this country – the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.\u201d<\/p>\n Her comments sparked \u2018shock and disappointment\u2019 among officials in Delhi, who accused her of being \u201cdisrespectful\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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