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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 October 2025.

Item 6

We’d like to thank the LDC group for the efforts that they’ve made in finding alternative text which attempts to address all Members’ concerns, and want to acknowledge the compromises that they have made in doing so. The current draft appears unable to secure consensus from the membership, so clearly further work will be required. The UK remains committed to working with all members to try and help find a solution that is acceptable to all. Thank you.

Item 13

The UK welcomes China’s commitment to no longer seek Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) in new WTO agreements. It’s an important step, a step that we hope will create positive momentum in the ongoing discussions on WTO reform. We know that country classification and S&DT are key cornerstones of this organisation, but there are long-standing calls for reform from developed and developing countries which need to be addressed. We hope that China’s announcement will create positive momentum and we encourage China and others to continue to think ambitiously about further steps that can be taken to progress WTO reform and strengthen the multilateral trading system. Thank you.

Item 14

Business voices at this year’s Public Forum were clear: the Agreement on Electronic Commerce will provide the predictability and stability that they need and will make trade cheaper, faster, fairer and more secure. Recent analysis by the OECD and the WTO has shown that the implementation of the deal can increase global trade by 2.3%, an increase of up to 8.7 trillion US dollars by 2040, with lower and middle income countries set to benefit most. The evidence also shows that each year that the implementation of the deal is delayed, 159 billion US dollars of foregone trade is being left on the table. And yet, while the support and evidence is clear, more than one year on from the conclusion of the negotiations we’ve been unable to incorporate the agreement into Annex 4. We’re open to engaging with all WTO members to ensure that we can all benefit from the agreement as soon as possible, and we hope that our request in December will be considered faithfully. We’ve already missed out on a year’s worth of economic benefits. We shouldn’t delay further.

And before I give up the floor, I also pass on my heartfelt thank you to Jeremy from Australia who’s personally played such a big role in this agreement. We will really miss his wisdom and his guidance on this and so many other issues. Thank you.

Item 17

Thank you, Chair. We would like to thank India for their interest and engagement from the UK’s Article XXVIII process, which concluded on the 1st of October. The UK issued eight extensions to the process over a seven-year period to allow time to address Members’ concerns, resolve negotiations and finalise administrative processes. We are ready to engage India bilaterally and in the most appropriate WTO forums on this matter. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 October 2025.

The UK hosted a flagship trade and investment reception on HMS Richmond at Mumbai Port, marking the visit of the UK Carrier Strike Group to India.

The reception showcased how the UK and India’s free trade agreement (FTA) will make it cheaper, easier, and quicker to do business together – unlocking new opportunities across sectors from manufacturing and defence to clean energy and technology.

The event followed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to India in Mumbai this week, where he was joined by the UK’s largest ever trade delegation to India. The visit evidenced the vast opportunities for businesses across the UK and India following our historic FTA, and the launch of our refreshed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vision 2035, in July.

UK Minister for Investment Jason Stockwood and Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker both attended the event after a day of productive business talks with leading UK and Indian businesses.

The Minister for Investment met with Indian firms, outlining the sector-specific partnerships of the FTA framework, new investment opportunities and technology collaboration.

Lord Vernon Coaker also attended a Defence Capability showcase onboard HMS Richmond and met with the India’s Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence) Shri Sanjay Seth, outlining the opportunities for stronger UK-India defence industrial cooperation to deliver growth and jobs in both countries.

Investment Minister Jason Stockwood said:

Our landmark trade deal with India is already delivering for businesses in both countries with investment boosted across the board.

I have been inspired by the entrepreneurial energy of the wide range of business leaders, investors, and cultural representatives I’ve met during my visit, and this is a testament to the strong ties we have forged with our Indian partners as we continue to boost trade as part of our Plan for Change.

UK Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker said:

It was a pleasure to visit India during a week which saw the UK-India partnership reach new heights. The UK Carrier Strike Group conducted Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy, led by their indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

We are now entering the era of defence co-production, which will provide mutual benefits to both the countries. The various initiatives demonstrate the growing depth and trust in our relationship, which is even more important to promote peace, security and stability in an increasingly uncertain world.

The reception followed the first ever British and Indian Carrier Strike Group joint exercise, Exercise KONKAN, which commenced earlier this week. New milestones for UK-India defence collaboration were also reached with a £350m deal set to deliver UK missiles for the Indian Army, and the signing of the Implementing Arrangement to advance cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval ships to the next stage, worth an initial £250m.

The ‘Alive with Opportunity’ reception was made possible by the invaluable support of sponsors. The British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai shared special thanks with the platinum sponsor, Premier League, gold partner HSBC India and in-kind partner Diageo India, whose contributions exemplify the strength of UK-India business ties. Their support, along with that of many others, helped to bring the celebration to life and reinforced the shared ambition of a prosperous future for both the UK and India.

Hrishikesh Shende, Managing Director Premier League India, said:

India is home to millions of football fans who follow the Premier League passionately and we are delighted to be supporting the ‘Alive with Opportunity’ showcase. The opening of the Premier League office in Mumbai earlier this year underpins the League’s long-standing commitment to India.

Looking forward, we will be focusing on getting even closer to our hugely knowledgeable fanbase and continuing our grassroots programmes to support access to high-quality football for young people across the country. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is a boost to UK companies looking to invest and expand in India – creating business confidence and a framework for closer collaboration.

The event was attended by more than 400 leading figures representing government, businesses, investors, and cultural icons, celebrating the strengthening partnership between the UK and India spanning trade, investment and defence cooperation, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the UK and India’s relationship.

Further information

• The ‘UKxIndia: Alive with Opportunity’ campaign launched in 2023, celebrating the thriving partnership between the UK and India by showcasing the people, ideas, culture and innovation that drive collaboration across key sectors including tourism, education, retail, hospitality and trade.
• The UK’s Carrier Strike Group is currently on an eight-month deployment known as Operation HIGMAST. This multinational deployment led by the UK Carrier Strike Group providing an opportunity for the UK’s Armed Forces to conduct a major global deployment and a chance to exercise complex operations alongside partners and allies in the region. Read more here and here.
• A new £350 million deal, welcomed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will see UK missiles supplied to the Indian Army. Read more here.