UK – India trade deal « Trade Justice Movement

The UK and India have been negotiating a trade deal since January 2022, the prospect of which raises significant concerns relating to human rights, international development and climate action.

Overview

The UK and India have been negotiating a trade deal since January 2022. While the agreement is presented as a way to deepen economic ties, it raises serious concerns around human rights, international development, and climate action.

The Trade Justice Movement urges the UK Government to adopt a responsible and principled approach to negotiations, ensuring that any trade deal aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supports international justice and environmental commitments. Proceeding without addressing these issues risks undermining the UK’s credibility as a champion of human rights and sustainability in trade.

Concerns & risks

Human rights violations

India has been widely criticised for its human rights record, including:

Arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Unlawful surveillance of journalists, activists, and opposition figures.
Suppression of free speech, with academics, journalists, and lawyers facing persecution as “enemies of the state.”

Negotiating a trade deal without addressing these concerns contradicts the UK’s commitments under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). TJM calls on the UK to pause trade talks until India makes tangible improvements in human rights protections, including signing and implementing key international conventions.

Climate risks

Trade agreements can drive up emissions while limiting government action on climate change. The UK’s own scoping assessment of the proposed trade deal found that it could:

Increase overall UK emissions by 0.08% to 0.14%.
Cause a dramatic 18% to 36% rise in transport-related emissions, depending on the depth of the agreement.

These projected increases are incompatible with keeping global warming below 1.5°C and achieving net zero by 2050. To ensure climate alignment, a UK-India trade deal must:

Support emissions reductions in line with global climate targets.
Exclude provisions that hinder climate policies or exacerbate carbon footprints.

Gender inequality

Women in India continue to face significant economic and social disparities, including:

Higher unemployment and lower wages compared to men.
Greater job insecurity and lack of workplace protections.
A disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work.

Despite SDG 5 (Gender Equality), the UK’s approach to the India trade deal focuses narrowly on supporting women entrepreneurs, failing to address wider structural inequalities. TJM calls on the UK to:

Commission a full, independent gender impact assessment of the trade deal.
Ensure trade policies do not worsen gender inequality by addressing sectors with high female employment.
Design agreements to promote broader economic empowerment for women, rather than limiting support to entrepreneurship initiatives.

TJM’s position & recommendations

Before proceeding with a trade deal, the UK must take a principled stand to ensure that trade supports, rather than undermines, human rights, climate action, and gender equality. TJM calls on the UK Government to:

Halt negotiations until India demonstrates significant progress on human rights.
Align the trade deal with climate goals, ensuring it does not drive emissions higher or limit government policy space.
Promote gender equality, with a trade framework that tackles structural barriers rather than offering superficial fixes.

Without these safeguards, a UK-India trade deal risks reinforcing harmful policies rather than advancing sustainable and equitable trade.