India On UK’s Target List For Post-Brexit Trade Campaign

From 1 February, a day after the country formally leaves the European Union, the UK will set to strike new ties with partners around the globe. India is among its potential trade partner target list as the country starts a new post-Brexit trade campaign from Saturday.

Mumbai is among the 18 cities across 13 countries to be part of the drive, designed to push the message that Britain is now free to do its own new trade deals with countries around the world as a non-member of the soon-to-be 27-member economic bloc, after 47 years of EU membership ends on Friday.

"On 1 February, the new GREAT 'Ready to Trade' campaign will launch in 18 cities across 13 countries outside the EU, as the UK seeks to deepen our relationships with future global partners," Downing Street said in a statement on the eve of Brexit.

The campaign will initially feature digital outdoor advertising in signature locations across the chosen cities and later expand to other activities. Besides India, the others on the list include Australia (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Canada (Toronto), China (Shanghai, Hong Kong), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Singapore (Singapore), South Africa (Johannesburg), South Korea (Seoul), Turkey (Istanbul), UAE (Dubai) and USA (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago).

As a member of the EU, the UK was not permitted to open up any separate negotiations with other countries.

The EU Withdrawal Agreement, costing the UK around GBP 30 billion, was formally passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday evening.

It would then set off a transition period until the end of December this year, during which time the UK is free to conduct trade negotiations not only for a new agreement with the EU but also around the world.

With inputs from PTI