India is prepared to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky and British cars and parts by at least a third, but wants Rishi Sunak to slash its workers’ tax to seal a post-Brexit trade deal.
Indian companies and workers on short-term visas based in the UK pay £500 million a year in national insurance — yet will not collect a British pension and pay twice as they keep up payments at home too.
Delhi considers cutting the bill to be a “sticking point” and, in return, negotiators have offered to cut tariffs on whisky — a major British export — from 150 per cent to 100 per cent, with an even higher potential reduction for bulk exports to 75 per cent.
Narendra Modi is keen to finalise the trade deal before next year’s election in India
PYROS BAKALIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
The two sides are also
