“We’ve closed a lot of chapters (the sections for the negotiating text). The negotiations are progressing well. But we want to focus on the quality of the deal rather than the speed of the deal. Given the changes that have taken place – not just in government but the mourning period (for the Queen) and so on, it makes sense for us to focus on the deal rather than the day,” she was quoted as saying by newswires.

The United Kingdom’s talks with India over signing a draft free trade agreement (FTA) do not have a October 24 (Hindu festival of Diwali) deadline anymore, according to UK trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, who recently said the negotiations are, however, progressing well. “We are close. We’re still working on a deal,” she told the state broadcaster.

The Diwali deadline was announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his India visit in April.

UK home secretary Suella Braverman’s recent comments raising concerns over the prospect of visa concessions for India as part of an FTA were also reportedly perceived as throwing the talks off-track.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)