The UK and India have relaunched free trade talks as part of aims to more than double bilateral trade within the next decade, according to officials.

The two-day meeting, kicked off in New Delhi on 24 February between UK business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds and India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal, represents the first formal contact between negotiating teams since the UK Labour government took power in July 2024.

Since initially commencing in 2022, UK-India free trade deal talks have been stymied by multiple obstacles, missing previous deadlines for conclusion amid differences on certain contentious issues.

In a joint statement issued on 24 February, the two sides said they have "directed the negotiators to work together to resolve the outstanding issues in the agreement to ensure a fair and equitable trade deal for shared success."

The UK government notes that India is on course to become the world's third largest economy in 2028 and touts its burgeoning middle class – a population it says is slated to hit 95 million by 2035 – as a major opportunity for businesses looking to grow and trade internationally.

Reynolds describes securing a trade deal with India as being "a no-brainer, and a top priority for me and this government."

"Growth will be the guiding principle in our trade negotiations with India and I'm excited about the opportunities on offer in this vibrant market," he adds.

Duties that could be scrapped as part of a free trade agreement include the 150% tariff on Scotch whisky, which the Scotch Whisky Association has described as a "significant barrier to trade."

Elsewhere, the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales has noted that a deal between the UK and India could open up opportunities for companies involved in the beef, lamb and pork sectors.

Those commenting on the resumption of talks include Richard Heald, chair of the UK India Business Council. "We are delighted to note the progress on the UK-India free trade agreement negotiations," he says.

"Success in the FTA will support further economic growth for the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies," he adds. "It will catalyse collaboration beyond into other areas too. Importantly, it will signal the UK and India are strategic partners. This is truly an exciting chapter of the UK-India partnership."