EU steals march in race for India trade deal as Boris Johnson announces ‘enhanced partnership’
The IndependentSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The EU is poised to steal a march on the UK in the hunt for a post-Brexit trade deal with India, as Boris Johnson announced only an “enhanced partnership” with Delhi. But the “enhanced partnership” seems certain to be trumped by talks on a fully fledged trade deal between the EU and India, to be confirmed within days. “The prime minister can talk in platitudes about future trade targets, but we’re yet to see the influx of post-Brexit free trade agreements that was promised,” said Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat trade spokesperson. “The same can be said of the trade relationship with India at this stage, and it’s extremely doubtful that a full FTA is on the cards.” Naomi Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Best for Britain, said: “We know historically that India starts rather more trade talks than it finishes, so this promise to negotiate a comprehensive UK-India trade agreement should be taken with a large pinch of salt.” The UK and India are unveiling a package containing more than £533m of new Indian investment in the UK, with £200m of the deals supporting low carbon growth.