The UK’s international trade secretary said “everything is on the table to discuss”, including immigration, as she launches trade negotiations with India, the biggest country with which the UK has sought to sign a post-Brexit free trade deal.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan said her team has “a broad mandate to crack on from cabinet”, including to negotiate over India’s demands for easier visa access for students and skilled workers. She said the UK wants to finalise a deal by early 2023, ahead of both Indian and British general elections the following year.
Trevelyan will meet Piyush Goyal, India’s commerce minister, to launch formal trade negotiations with India on Thursday. Their teams will hold a first round of talks this month.