UK-India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Earl of Dundee Excerpts

Wednesday 4th March 2026 Grand Committee

[The Earl of Dundee (Con)]

My Lords, I join in welcoming this trade deal, yet, as others have said, with certain reservations and concerns. In my remarks, I will briefly touch on three points: redressing and ironing out certain trading inconsistencies; upholding human rights standards; then ensuring that a concordat such as this properly punches above its commercial-deal weight in order to assist international peace and stability.

Such as for Scotch whisky, mentioned with enthusiasm by the noble Lord, Lord Anderson of Swansea, and my noble friend Lord Johnson of Lainston, there is clearly good scope for United Kingdom exports, along with cars and medical equipment; while as well for Indian exports, including textiles, leather and jewellery. Trade volume forecasts indicate a consolidated annual supplement of £25.5 billion by 2040.

However, as already implied, tariff cuts for United Kingdom exporters may be phased faster than for Indian producers, thereby implying imbalanced gains. As also referred to by my noble friend Lord Johnson, non-tariff barriers like regulation differences still appear to threaten trade, in particular for United Kingdom firms attempting to sell into India. What actions will the Government take to reduce and remove these anomalies?

Then, as the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, emphasised regarding our United Kingdom legal, healthcare and financial services sectors, current arrangements remain limited, consequently underutilising one of our key strengths. What plans, therefore, do the Government have to correct this oversight?

I turn to human standards, beginning with labour rights. So far within the deal there may be insufficient protections for minimum labour rights and social standards, especially in developing industries. And in India, small domestic industries will find it hard to comply with the technical, environmental and other stipulations necessary for exports.

If the Minister agrees with those strictures, can he say what adjustments the Government are prepared to make?

On a connected and wider front, he might also want to comment on the allegation that, since the agreement does not enforce provisions on any of human rights, environmental protections, labour standards or climate goals, then, to a disproportionate extent, it seems to put commercial objectives well before other relevant considerations.

Certainly the deal’s education agenda is much to be supported and in several respects: mutual recognition of qualifications; measures promoting academic partnership and skills mobility; and its encouragement to Indian students and professionals to study and work in the United Kingdom.

I declare an interest as a recent chairman of the Council of Europe’s committee for education. During its G7 presidency in 2021, the United Kingdom gave a commitment to promote education opportunities, particularly for women, in the third world and elsewhere in countries where education systems do not fully operate.

Does the Minister, therefore, concur that the education agenda within the India trade deal also provides a useful launch pad to extend, broaden and honour the United Kingdom’s given commitment; and thus to do so both within and beyond India as well?

To assist peace and stability, just such international initiatives for all world communities can help to bring closer the objectives of United States President Roosevelt, which he expressed during the Second World War in 1941: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

In that context of punching above its weight and, as already indicated, provided the correction of some trade anomalies and a rebalancing of its combined purposes, this trade agreement has the opportunity to make a significant contribution.