NEW DELHI: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicated on Tuesday that the government is maintaining contact with the United States at various levels concerning the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), suggesting potential progress towards the agreement.The minister, however, avoided specifying any timeline for completing the BTA negotiations, noting that discussions continue without fixed deadlines. “Our talks with the United States are ongoing continuously. Contacts are maintained at different levels. We never negotiate based on deadlines. The possibilities are full. Every possibility exists. Currently, the US government is in shutdown mode. In light of that, we’ll have to see how, where, and when the talks can take place,” the Union Minister stated during his Qatar visit.

This comes just two days external affairs minister S Jaishankar clarified India’s stance, talking about ‘respecting the red lines’. Acknowledging that there are “problems” and “issues” in the India-US relationship that need resolution, Jaishankar said on Sunday that any understanding on bilateral trade “has to be (one) where our bottom lines, our red lines are respected.” “There has got to be a trade understanding with US. But… in any agreement, there are things you can negotiate and things you can’t,” he added, asserting that India will not compromise on matters affecting the interests of farmers, small-scale industries, and fishermen.

Trade talks with EU

Meanwhile, regarding Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions with the European Union, Goyal said, “There are very good discussions going on between EU and India in Brussels. Our entire team is there.” He shared positive views about the partnership between the $20 trillion European Union comprising 27 nations and India, currently the fastest growing large economy globally.Goyal highlighted the advantages both partners bring: India’s youthful, skilled workforce alongside the EU’s technological and innovative capabilities. “We are hoping to work together in a spirit of deep understanding of each other’s sensitivities so that we can conclude a very equitable, fair and balanced free trade agreement between the $20 trillion European Union of 27 countries and India, the fastest growing large economy in the world today, we complement each other,” he stated.Goyal further added, “Our young, talented and skilled population is a great resource for the European Union who needs talented young people. The innovation and technology base that European Union has holds tremendous potential for Indian businesses and jointly the European Union companies and Indian companies can leverage each other’s strengths so that we can serve the world together.”He announced that Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal would visit Brussels to meet his counterpart after the current discussions conclude, planning the next steps.Addressing the FTA timeline, Goyal said, “I have often said that we neither do negotiations with a deadline, nor do we like to unnecessarily delay negotiations. So we will make every endeavor to meet the leaders expectations and complete the negotiations before the end of the year and I see tremendous potential and possibility.”

New Delhi: Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, approved the State Gems and Jewellery Policy-2025, intending to boost the growth of industries and businesses related to gold, silver jewellery, diamonds and gems.

The government further expects an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore and the creation of five lakh jobs in this sector.

The Cabinet also cleared the policy for wastewater treatment in urban areas of the state. The circular economy will be promoted through wastewater treatment and its recycling. The concept of sustainable management of wastewater, environmental protection, and a healthy environment will be strengthened. The policy will be implemented in 424 urban local bodies of the state.

The Cabinet approved to amend the Maharashtra Prohibition of Partition of Holding Lands and their Consolidation Act, 1947. The provision in section 8 (b) of the Act will be omitted, and a new provision will be inserted after sub-section (3) in section 9.

In a bid to further give much-needed push to slum rehabilitation schemes for making Mumbai slum free, the Cabinet approved the implementation of a Slum Cluster Redevelopment Scheme for slum redevelopment.

Further, the Cabinet also approved to provide 2 hectares 38 acres of land in Mouja Badnera for 30 years to Amravati Municipal Corporation for an e-bus depot and charging system under the Central government-sponsored PME Bus Scheme.

The Cabinet decided to implement the revised In-Service Assured Progress Scheme with 2 benefits for non-teaching employees of private aided primary, upper primary, secondary residential ashram schools of the Vijayabhaj category, residential ashram schools for the sons and daughters of sugarcane workers and Vidyaniketan ashram schools run by NGOs. Non-teaching employees of such 980 ashram schools will get the benefits.

The Cabinet approved the implementation of an electricity subsidy of Rs 3 per unit for private spinning mills as per the cooperative spinning mills under the Integrated and Sustainable Textile Policy, 2023-28. Spinning mills in clusters will get relief under the State Industrial Cluster Development Scheme.

Further, Power loom owners will have to register on the Textiles Commissionerate portal to avail the electricity subsidy. Registration will have to be done within six months of the issuance of the government decision.

The Cabinet also approved the Senior Civil Court at Akole in Ahilyanagar district with nod for the necessary posts for this court.

Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that output at some of its manufacturing sites will resume on Wednesday, as it continues to recover from a serious cyber-attack.

Its production lines have been at a standstill since the start of September, following the attack.

The phased return of staff will begin at some sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside.

JLR has also announced a programme to fast-track payments to its direct suppliers, some of which had laid off workers after their revenues dried up following the hack.

Initially the scheme will be confined to the most critical suppliers needed for restarting production, but it will be expanded at a later date.

JLR says the phased restart will begin at its Wolverhampton engine plant in Wolverhampton and its battery assembly centre in Hams Hall.

Employees who work in facilities which prepare pressed metal bodywork at the company’s sites in Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull will also be brought back in – as will those who work in the Solihull car plant’s body shop and paint shop.

JLR says this move will be “closely followed” by the resumption of vehicle manufacturing in Nitra, Slovakia. The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport production lines in Solihull are expected to restart later in the week.

It is not yet clear when output will resume at JLR’s Halewood plant on Merseyside.

Experts have warned that it is still likely to be several weeks before the production lines are running as normal.

JLR has also outlined an accelerated-payment scheme to help its suppliers, many of whom have been struggling financially.

So-called Tier 1 suppliers, with which the company has a direct relationship, will be able to get paid for new orders shortly after they have been placed, rather than up to two months after delivery. JLR says this will enable them to get funding up to 120 days earlier than normal.

There is an expectation that these companies will then offer similar terms to their own suppliers, allowing funding to flow rapidly down the supply chain.

The scheme is being funded by JLR itself, using credit provided by a commercial bank. It is not linked to the £1.5bn loan guarantee recently offered to the carmaker by the government.

Industry insiders have warned that the resumption of production, while welcome, does not end the crisis being experienced by many smaller suppliers. Some are heavily reliant on JLR and have had little or no income for the past month and a half, while bills have still had to be paid.

Last week, one leading contractor told the BBC that the help offered by the government so far was inadequate.

David Roberts of Evtec Group said: “We asked the government directly, at ministerial level, to directly support the sector. They listened, but they did nothing. It’s almost like they’ve turned a deaf ear to the needs of advanced manufacturing.”

Another supplier, Genex UK, a small company which presses metal parts, told the BBC it had been forced to lay off 18 staff because of a cash shortage.