Free trade, not work visas.

"For decades, India has been obsessively focused on securing commitments for work visas in its trade negotiations, particularly when negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)," wrote Sanjeev Sanyal & Chirag Dudani. With declining population Western economies need skilled workers from India, there has been a shift towards digital outsourcing and Indian tech companies are demanding far fewer H1B visas than US multinationals. "Yet, India makes substantial concessions in other sectors for access that it would likely receive anyway." "In short, Indian trade negotiators should simply stop negotiating for long-term work visas." Former UK minister, and Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch "has said that she blocked the India-UK FTA due to demands for additional visas, according to UK media reports." TOI. "Currently, India's trade agreements cover 26 countries. It is now negotiating new FTAs with 45 countries, including the UK, European Union, Peru and Oman." "According to experts, India could not gain much from these FTAs as in absolute terms its tariff concessions were deeper than its partners, who already had lower tariffs." Also, "Korea and Japan apply stringent standards, regulations and certification requirements. Conforming to these standards and then obtaining certifications is costly." FE. India has high tariffs on imports to protect local manufacturers, thus allowing them to earn exorbitant profits by selling shoddy goods to hapless Indians. In Budget 2019, "Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman proposed hike in customs duty on 75 imported items to give a push to Make in India program of the Narendra Modi government." India Today. In Budget 2020, "Customers can expect to pay more for imported food and grocery items, shoes, ceiling fans, wooden furniture, kitchenware, appliances, hairdryers, shelled walnuts and other items with the budget raising the basic customs duty to as much as 100% on some of them to encourage local producers." ET. India is one of the hottest countries in the world and has been using ceiling fans for at least 100 years. "In January-June 2024, Indian mining companies increased iron ore exports by 20% compared to the same period in 2023, to 20.26 million tons." GMK Center. India contributes at least 2% of the world's copper production. wikipedia. "In FY25 (until June 2024), India's plastic exports stood at US $2.93 billion. ibef.org. We have all the ingredients and the largest customer base right here in India and yet we cannot produce the highest quality ceiling fans at the lowest possible cost. We have to protect the industry with 100% tariffs. There are two main reasons for this. One, "Cash handouts schemes have, of late, become politicians', across central and state governments, preferred social welfare instrument to secure votes - or bribe voters." "Is this a new race to the fiscal bottom?" asked Subhash Chandra Garg. This profligacy leads to very high taxes and a high degree of suspicion of tax evasion. "This suspicion runs so deep and nuanced that an intricate framework of rules amounting to a 'chastity belt' has left even well-meaning companies exhausted with compliance requirements," wrote Narayan Ramachandran. A chastity belt didn't work on Queen Guinevere some 1500 years ago. sites. Other nations have renounced it. Hence we fail at FTAs.