The ninth round of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations concluded with detailed discussions across a range of policy areas, the UK government said on Wednesday. A joint outcome statement issued by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) revealed that Round 9 of the ongoing talks took place between April 24 and 28 in a hybrid format, with some Indian officials travelling to London and others attending virtually.

 

There is no date set for the 10th round of negotiations, which is likely to be hosted by New Delhi, also in a hybrid format.

 

'In continuation of the eighth round of negotiations held during 20-31 March 2023 in New Delhi, the United Kingdom and the Republic of India held the ninth round of talks during 24-28 April for a UK-India FTA,' the DBT statement said.

 

'As with previous rounds, these were conducted in a hybrid fashion - a number of officials from India travelled to London and others attended virtually. During the round, detailed discussions took place across a range of policy areas,' it said.

 

'The tenth round of negotiations is due to take place in the coming months,' it added.

 

India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA since January last year, with a goal towards a comprehensive pact that is expected to significantly enhance the bilateral trading relationship worth an estimated GBP 34 billion in 2022.

 

Recently, Britain's Chief Negotiator for the FTA - Harjinder Kang - was appointed the country's new Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, based in Mumbai.

 

UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said he is expected to use the FTA talks experience to build on the UK's 'outstanding track record' on trade in South Asia. Kang has been succeeded in the role of the UK's Chief Negotiator for the India-UK FTA by Kate Thornley, previously Deputy Chief Negotiator.

 

According to official UK government statistics, India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade.

 

The DBT describes the UK-India investment partnership as 'thriving', with over GBP 28 billion invested in each other's economies supporting over half a million jobs.

In a landmark initiative, the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) under the Union DoNER ministry has authorised 800 farmers from the northeast to use the GI tag of 13 fruits and vegetables over which it had exclusive GI rights under Intellectual Property Rights.

 

A GI tag offers a guarantee of origin and specific characteristics of the commodities that helps build global reputation for the products. After NERAMAC on Tuesday authorised these farmers, working in groups, to use its certifications, it is expected to boost promotion of these unique products of the northeast in the international and domestic markets.

 

In continuation to NERAMAC's endeavours towards GI initiatives, a GI awareness seminar-cum-exhibition was held on Tuesday, where the authorisation was handed to the farmers. These commodities are: Arunachal Orange, Mizo Chilli, Kachai Lemon, Tripura Queen Pineapple, Khasi Mandarin, Tezpur Litchi, Sikkim Large Cardamom, Karbi Anglong Ginger, Naga Tree Tomato, 'Chak-Hao' Black Rice, Memang Narang, Dalle Khursani and Naga Sweet Cucumber.

 

'The initiative will provide recognition to the unique qualities and reputation of NER agricultural products and protect them from misuse and imitation,' said Commodore Rajiv Ashok (Retd), managing director, NERAMAC. 'The GI initiative is a significant step towards promoting and protecting the traditional agricultural practices and products of the NER region.'

India performed well in agriculture exports last season. During 2022-23, agricultural and processed food exports increased by 9 percent. This included rice, fruits and vegetables, livestock and dairy products.

 

In this year, India exported 2 thousand 630 crore dollars. Whereas the exports under Apeda have reached the target of 2 thousand 356 crore dollars.

 

India is an important rice exporting country in the world. India accounts for 45 percent of the total world rice trade. The demand for rice in the world market has increased since last year. Floods in East Asian countries, Africa and Europe as well as Pakistan had increased the demand for rice.

 

Also, India's rice prices in rice exporting countries are lower. As a result, India's rice got a good boost and exports increased. India exported rice to nearly 75 countries.

 

Rice export significant

 

According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the value of India's rice exports has increased by 15 percent. India exported rice worth 1 thousand 110 crore dollars. India had banned the export of broken rice.

 

Also, 20 percent export duty was imposed on white rice exports . Despite this, there was a 5 percent increase in exports to 223 lakh tonnes.

 

Export of fruits, vegetables

 

India's exports of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables also increased significantly. After Corona, the demand for fruits and vegetables has increased in the global market. India is benefiting from this.

 

India's exports increased by nearly 19 percent to 380 crore dollars. Also, exports of cereals and processed food products increased by 20 percent. India exported $430 million worth of food grains and processed food products during the year.

 

Exports of which items decreased?

 

But India's exports of meat, dairy and poultry products declined somewhat. Last year there was a crisis of various diseases on livestock in the country. Breeding of livestock was reduced during Corona period. Lumpy disease affected cattle.

 

Due to this, the milk production in the country decreased and created a shortage. Its effect was felt on exports. India exports meat, dairy and poultry products worth 400 crores in a year.

In a long tweet, the EAM said the two sides also noted the progress in the I2U2 - India, Israel, US, UAE bloc - as well cooperation in multilateral forums.

 

The two ministers also exchanged perspectives on their respective regions, as well as on the Ukraine conflict, and the Indo-Pacific.

 

'Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon.

 

'The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership - Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security - are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more.

 

'Discussed cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health.

 

'Noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums. Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.

 

'Initialed an agreement in the area of mobility.'

 

The Israeli Minister in a tweet said he had held an excellent meeting with EAM Jaishankar, and the two sides are expanding cooperation in the fields of cyber, agriculture and water.

 

'Excellent meeting with the Foreign Minister of India -@DrSJaishankar

'We are strengthening ties with the most populous country in the world, and expanding cooperation in the fields of cyber, agriculture and water.

 

'Our cooperation will strengthen Israel's position in the world and stability in the Middle East.'

 

The two ministers later paid homage at the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk.

 

EAM Jaishankar said, 'This symbol of our shared history reflects the enduring India-Israel friendship.'

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal discussed the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada with his Canadian counterpart Mary Ng on Monday. The agreement, as per Goyal, would mutually benefit both the countries and 'further deepen the Indo-Canadian ties'. The two also co-chaired the sixth India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI).

 

Goyal tweeted: 'Co-chaired the 6th India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment with my Canadian counterpart Mary Ng. The dialogue reinforced how forging an Early Progress Trade Agreement would further deepen the Indo-Canadian trade ties, mutually benefiting both the countries'.

 

The EPTA is one of the important steps towards the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Indian and Canadian officials held the seventh round of negotiations for the EPTA in Ottawa in April this year. This agreement may cover non-conventional areas like SMEs, trade and gender, environment and labour, apart from the traditional areas. It is also aimed at liberalising norms to promote trade in services and attract investments.

 

India and Canada are looking to reduce customs duties on goods traded between the two countries through these negotiations, Commerce Ministry said. India’s key exports to Canada are medicines, chemicals, petroleum oils, and plastic products, electrical and electronic equipment. Canada imports fertilisers, aviation technology and equipment, coal, and diamonds among other items from India.

 

Launched in 2009, the CEPA is aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investment by eliminating or reducing tariffs on goods and services traded between the two countries. This agreement aims at covering a wide range of sectors such as agriculture, intellectual properties, and manufacturing services.

 

The MDTI, on the other hand, is a bilateral forum to discuss trade and investment related issues and cooperation areas. The dialogue focuses on themes such as strengthening the bilateral trade relationship, investment promotion, green transition including critical minerals.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has played a crucial role in furthering India's cultural and trade relations with all the South Asian countries.

 

The Union Minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating various development projects of the Land Ports Authority of India, responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in the country.

 

'The Land Ports Authority is not only an organization that accelerates the economy of India, but it is also the ambassador of India's message of friendship. It is a very big institution to take forward our cultural relations, and trade relations with all the countries of South Asia, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new speed, direction, and dimensions since 2016,' Shah said.

Shah went on to add that India's border security policy is clear.

 

'We want strong infrastructure in the border areas. The facilities of welfare schemes have reached the villages in the border areas like the rest of the country and we are also working towards improving the connectivity of the villages,' he said.

The cultivators were sent to Siliguri in West Bengal to learn about the Hydroponic system of farming, an advanced technique that promises to increase yields in a shorter timeframe, reported The Shillong Times.

 

Among the nine farmers who completed the training were Iahphang Dkhar and Morning Suchiang, both renowned strawberry farmers in the district and across the state and country.

 

The others included Jamris Langstang, Erick Dkhar, Robin Siangshai, Samuel Latam, Jimris Langstang, and Dibait Dkhar, all of whom are known for their expertise in growing oranges.

 

This initiative aims to equip local farmers with new skills and innovations to enhance agricultural production in the region.

In a big relief for apple growers of Kashmir, the central government has prohibited the import of apples where the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) import price is less than or equal to Rs 50 per kilogram.

 

The central government has changed its import policy for apples and created a Minimum Import Price (MIP), which is an import price ceiling, to safeguard the interests of the country's apple growers. This is a significant step that is sure to cheer up Kashmir's apple farmers.

 

This decision came after Iranian apple imports during the last two years have hit the rates of Kashmiri apples.

 

Fruit growers were claiming that the decreasing prices of apples are forcing many to switch their apple orchards for non-agricultural purposes.

 

However, an exception has been granted under this amendment in Apple's import policy. As per the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s neighbour Bhutan is kept out of the new restrictions.

 

The import policy remains 'Free' for those apples costing above Rs 50 per kilogram.

 

The DGFT did not specify any reason in its notification as to why the amendment in Apple's import policy was needed.

 

The decision has, however, put a smile on the faces of apple producers who were negatively impacted by the cheap import of apples that was dumped into Indian markets and eating away at their market share.

 

Apple growers would benefit from the decision, according to Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of the All Kashmir Fruit Growers Dealers Union.

 

The drop in apple pricing caused losses for local producers, he said, adding that this ceiling would now ensure that our product will obtain a higher market share. 'From previous many years we are criticising how cheap apples were imported via Afghanistan led to a decline in apple prices.'

 

Over 35 lakh people, or around 7 lakh agricultural households, work in the horticultural industry directly or indirectly. In Jammu and Kashmir, apples account for around 8% of the country's GDP. More than Over 3.37 lakh hectares of land is being used for the production of fresh and dry fruits, and more area is added each year. In the Valley, pears are cultivated on 14,161 hectares of land, whereas apples are grown on 1.68 lakh hectares of land all by themselves.

The Central agency National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) is likely to start onion procurement on May 15, hoping to create a buffer stock. Last year, the agency started the procurement in the second half of April.

 

The average wholesale prices of summer onions have declined to Rs 700 per 100 kgs this year due to a rise in supply. Nafed officials said they would procure 80% of the total 150,000 tons summer onions from Nashik district and the remaining from Ahmednagar and other pockets in Maharashtra.

 

The federal government has set a target of creating a buffer stock of 250,000 tons of onions through its two central agencies.

The initial gains from the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) have already started accruing with bilateral trade growing around 20% and touching an all-time high of around $84 billion in FY23, Rajesh Kumar Singh, secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said at a business gathering in Dubai.

 

The agreement came into force on May 1 last year.

 

Singh, along with Juma Mohammed Al-Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade, Ministry of Economy, UAE and Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, inaugurated the International Jewellery Exposition Centre in Dubai in which around 100 companies from India and the UAE, participated.

 

'Singh had also held one-on-one meetings with senior representatives of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company – sovereign wealth funds of the UAE,' the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

 

The two-day visit to the UAE of the Indian delegation led by the DPIIT secretary concluded on May 9.