Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment has he made of the effect on businesses of the new rules in India preventing online retailers from selling products through vendors in which they hold an equity stake.

The UK is a strong supporter of modern and ambitious digital trade policy. The Digital economy, and e-commerce in particular are important drivers of wider economic growth. The UK believes in ensuring that all countries are able to access the benefits that e-Commerce can offer, and that this is crucial for alleviating poverty by contributing to a truly inclusive global trading system.

The UK will continue to support this objective in India, to help ensure a genuine level playing field for all UK businesses and support companies that have growing ambitions in this sector.