UK trade deal with India will hurt climate, environment and the poor, campaigners warn

Groups in both countries condemn ‘trade at any cost’ – neglecting ‘local businesses and public services’ – and ‘anti-democratic’ talks

The UK’s planned trade deal with India will hurt the climate, the environment and the poor and must be rethought from scratch, say campaigners in both countries.

The negotiations – aiming for an agreement by October – are also “anti-democratic” because civil society groups and trade unions are largely shut out, a hard-hitting statement says.

The protest accuses the government of downgrading international agreements on poverty and the climate emergency, in an echo of criticism of the UK’s trade deal with Australia.