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Piyush Goyal to visit UK to push India-UK FTA towards implementation
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynolds will review the progress made in the ongoing negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, and chart out a clear, time-bound roadmap for its finalisation and implementation.
Goyal is visiting the United Kingdom (UK) from June 18-19.
'The visit underscores India's strategic focus on strengthening its economic and trade partnership with the UK, particularly in the backdrop of the announcement by the two prime ministers to conclude the India–UK Free Trade Agreement,' the Department of Commerce said on Wednesday.
After nearly three-and-a-half years of intense negotiations, last month India and the UK concluded a long-pending trade pact that will boost strategic and economic ties between the two nations. However, the implementation of the deal may take more time.
'At a time of evolving global trade dynamics, Goyal's visit aims to accelerate bilateral engagements, harness emerging opportunities, and lay a robust foundation for a forward-looking, resilient, and mutually beneficial economic relationship,' the statement said.
The minister will also meet the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to discuss macroeconomic priorities, financial cooperation, and investment facilitation between the two countries.
He is also scheduled to engage with Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, to explore avenues of collaboration in creative industries and innovation-driven sectors. Goyal will participate in multiple high-impact sessions at the India Global Forum (IGF), and a roundtable titled 'From Agreement to Action: UK–India FTA'.
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Consequently, as per this interpretation, Israel's use of force is illegal and would amount to aggression, which is a war crime under international law. Pre-emptive self-defence What about the contention that Israel's military actions against Israel can be justified under pre-emptive self-defence, i.e., the right of the states to use force against an 'armed attack' that is yet to occur? The argument is that Iran is close to acquiring the capability to develop nuclear weapons, and once it receives the said capability, it will destroy Israel, as its leaders have vowed. Indeed, Israel justifies its war against Iran by claiming that its actions are pre-emptive self-defence against Iran's nuclear programme. Pre-emptive self-defence in international law is contentious because arguing for the use of force against an anticipated armed attack contradicts Article 51. 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