Foster C.G & Banga K 2025 – Written Evidence to the UK-India Free Trade Agreement Inquiry, UK Parliament, London, UK
Open access
[Focussing on digital trade provisions in FTA]
Key points:
- As the UK begins to negotiate deeper digital trade chapters in FTA with developing countries it needs to carefully consider the developmental differences and its implications to avoid skewed agreements that benefit neither party.
- The approach on digital trade and data provisions in the UK-India FTA is cautious, with strategic flexibility, aligning with UK’s international development objectives
- In the age of data and AI-driven business models, the risks of key digital trade clauses need to be reconsidered. The provision regarding ban on requirements for source-code sharing in the FTA will have adverse taxation and development effects on both economies.