Britain reels from the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once Prince Andrew, on his 66th birthday over Epstein ties, questions swirl around New Delhi’s corridors. Could this royal mess cast a shadow on the freshly inked UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), set to unlock £19 billion in UK exports to India?
With the pact eyeing rollout in April, Indian businesses eye massive gains, but trust in UK diplomacy hangs by a thread. Mountbatten-Windsor, nabbed Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, allegedly funneled sensitive trade docs to Jeffrey Epstein during his 2001-2011 stint as UK’s trade envoy.
Emails from US Justice Department files show him sharing “confidential briefs” on investment opportunities and visit reports from Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen in 2010-2011. “Andrew forwarded Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places,” notes a Reuters report, highlighting itinerary shares too.
These leaks, post-Epstein’s 2008 conviction, smack of betrayal. Thames Valley Police are probing if this breached the Official Secrets Act, with Buckingham Palace pledging support for any inquiry.
For India, the timing stings. The FTA, signed July 2025 after 15 negotiation rounds, promises tariff cuts on 99% of Indian exports entering UK duty-free, slashing UK duties by up to £400 million yearly, rising to £900 million in a decade. Bilateral trade hit £47.2 billion last year, up 15%, making India UK’s 10th top partner.
But Andrew’s Asia blunders raise red flags. His 2010 tour overlapped with UK’s push into emerging markets, including India. Sharing intel with a convicted felon could expose vulnerabilities in deals involving sensitive sectors like tech and defence, areas India guards closely amidst China tensions.
Andrew made several high-profile visits to India, most notably in 2006, 2010, May 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, visiting Chennai, Mumbai, and Nagaland to strengthen defense and trade ties. He visited again in 2015 for various diplomatic and business engagements, including the trade deal.
Though there is no direct India link in leaks or the scandal, its fresh fallout is turning wary. Post-Brexit, UK needs India for growth, but New Delhi, juggling FTAs with EU and US, might demand stricter safeguards now.
On X, chatter hints at unease. While global posts rage over Andrew’s arrest, Indian voices tie it to diplomacy: “UK’s royal rot could spoil our trade party,” tweets analyst @IndiaEconWatch, echoing fears of delayed gains.
Yet, optimism lingers. A commerce ministry official said the pact’s on track for mid-2026, with services provisions limited but goods flowing freer. For Indian firms eyeing UK markets, from autos to pharma, this Epstein echo is unlikely to affect trade ties for now.
Epstein’s Echo: Will Andrew’s Trade Blunders Delay £19Billion UK Trade Deal With India? added by Arun Kumar N on
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