A 30-member official delegation from the UK will start the next round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Indian team here from Monday to close the remaining issues so that the two countries conclude the talks soon, an official has said.

Both the countries have recently concluded the 13th round of negotiations. A team led by commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal was in London last week to give an impetus to the talks.

The UK team dealing with investment-related matters is already here, and the talks for the proposed bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with finance ministry officials are progressing at a faster pace.

“The 30-member team will be here tomorrow (Monday), and both sides are attempting to close the remaining issues, such as rules of origin. Everything is at the closure level,” the official said.

The “rules of origin” provision prescribes that minimal processing should happen in the FTA country so that the final manufactured product may be referred to as goods originating in that country.

Under this provision, a country that has inked an FTA with India cannot dump goods from some third country in the Indian market by just putting a label on it. It has to undertake a prescribed value addition in that product to export to India. Rules of origin norms help contain the dumping of goods. The investment treaty is being negotiated as a separate agreement between India and the UK.

These investment treaties help in promoting and protecting investments in each other’s country. The main point of contention involved in this pact is about the mechanism for the settlement of disputes.

The BITs help in promoting and protecting investments in each other’s countries.

India has proposed to first utilise all local judicial remedies for settlement of disputes before initiating an international arbitration. Several rounds of consultations have been held with the domestic players in India to provide duty concessions in the automobile sector.

The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals from sectors such as IT and healthcare in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duties.

On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on goods such as scotch whiskey, automobiles, lamb meat, chocolates and certain confectionary items.