New Delhi, May 15 -- Commerce secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Friday that India is very close to operationalising its free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK. However, certain sticking points have emerged following the UK's announcement of new steel safeguard measures that were not in place when the agreement was concluded.

The Indian government had previously indicated that the FTA could come into force by the end of May, but it now appears likely to be delayed owing to concerns around the UK's revised steel policies.

"We are working together to find a creative solution around the steel measure and operationalise the CETA (comprehensive economic and trade agreement) at an early date," Agarwal told the media in New Delhi.

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