Rishi Sunak shares first video from 10 Downing Street

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Rishi Sunak’s appointment as Prime Minister has boosted negotiations for a £60billion trade deal between the UK and India. Mr Sunak getting the keys to Downing Street and a change of tenor across Government are both working in favour of a deal being struck by early next year if not sooner, a trade expert has said.

Marco Forgione, Director of the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT), told Express.co.uk: “I think there has been a lot of very significant progress. We’re not across the line yet. There are still some issues which need to be agreed, but we are in a strong position.

“The new Prime Minister has obviously had an impact, not just because of his heritage, but also because of a new tenor across Government, which means I am very optimistic that a positive deal will be done and possibly slightly more detailed and far-reaching than I would have thought a few months back.”

Issues around digital, clean energy, mutual recognition and data competencies are in a better position, according to Mr Forgione, who explained the deal between the UK and India is to see further developments beyond the initial agreement.

He added: “In recent weeks, the mood has shifted. We can see that in the coverage given to the negotiations in India as well as the fact that the Prime Minister and [Indian] Prime Minister Modi have spoken and seem to have a good relationship. This is all hugely positive.”

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said after a meeting with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi that ties between the two countries would improve further under Mr Sunak.

Mr Cleverly said in an interview at the residence of the British High Commissioner: “I had a fantastic opportunity to talk about some incredibly important global issues, but also to talk about the strength of the bilateral partnership and about our plans to work more closely with India.”

He declined to say what was holding up the trade deal and refused to say if it could be finalised this year.

Mr Cleverly said: “But this is an important agreement for us and one we are really prioritising and one we will continue to ensure our officials and our ministers speak about regularly and work hard to deliver.”

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On what is delaying the deal, which was set for a Diwali deadline, Mr Forgione said the temperature of negotiations had risen in the final days of Liz Truss’s administration, but observers now see an increase in energy and enthusiasm to finalise the last elements of the deal.

He added: “The whole conversation around Diwali became in itself a bit of a distraction. A deadline gives an energy and a focus to the negotiation, but the reality is, on both sides, the deal will only be done when it is to the benefit of both parties. Getting the best deal should always be the priority.”

Mr Cleverly, speaking in India, told reporters: “We’ve got a lot of work done. And it’s incredibly important we remember that an extensive Free Trade Agreement like the one we’re negotiating, it’s never going to be simple, but it’s an incredibly important vehicle to build on our already strong relationship and to make it really future-focused.”

Previous sticking points included a steep import duty on British whiskey for sale in India. New Delhi is also keen on easier British visa for Indians.

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Under Ms Truss’s premiership, Home Secretary Suella Braverman had sparked outrage in New Delhi after criticising Indian nationals who overstay their visas in the UK.

On whether tensions over migration had been overcome, Mr Forgione said: “Overcome, no, but it is being addressed in a calmer manner than possibly previously. The comments recently are clear that that is much less of an issue.”

Mr Cleverly said negotiators wants to make sure visa arrangements are quick, easy and convenient.

The UK and India want to double bilateral trade by 2030 from more than £26.9billion ($31billion) now.

Asked when the deal might be complete, Mr Forgione said: “Probably the early part of next year, but something may happen before then. But the conversation is in a really strong place and there’s a great positivity on both sides.”

Mr Sunak told his Indian counterpart he was hoping to make “good progress” on finalising the new trade deal after the Government missed the deadline set by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

As the Diwali deadline came and went, questions were raised over the future of the negotiations under Mr Sunak’s leadership, but the PM last week appeared to have signalled his strong ambition to keep the talks alive in his first call with Narendra Modi from No 10.

In their call last Thursday, understood to have lasted about 20 to 25 minutes, Mr Sunak and Mr Modi also discussed opportunities to bolster their countries’ ties on security and defence.

Mr Sunak praised Mr Modi’s “leadership” in the fight against climate change, while the pair agreed to work together to “strengthen the developing economies of the world”, according to No 10.

Downing Street declined to speculate on a timeline for the potential trade deal.

Mr Sunak, who is the first British Asian and Hindu to be appointed Prime Minister, described himself as a “visual representation” of the “historic links” between the UK and India.

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