India-UK

The series of free trade agreements (FTAs) finalised by India, including the ones with the UK and the European Union, will give a major boost to toy exports, according to industry officials. Under the free trade agreements with the EU and UK, Indian toys will get zero duty access, Toy Association of India Chairman Manu Giota said. At present, the products face about 5-6 per cent import duty in these two markets. "These FTAs will catapult us into the major league, he said, adding that these markets account for about 16 per cent of the country's total toy exports, which stood at USD 0.35 billion in 2024. India signed a trade pact with the UK last year, and it will come into force from July 15. The agreement with the 27-nation EU is likely to be signed by December this year and may be implemented next year. Gupta, who is also the CEO of Playgro Toys India, said that huge investments are coming into the sector due to the business-friendly policies of the Narendra Modi-led ...

The India-UK trade pact opens duty-free access for Indian EVs while easing tariffs on UK car imports, strengthening two-way automotive trade

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK is the most comprehensive agreement that India has entered into so far and "sky is the limit" in terms of the economic benefits that will flow from it, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said here Thursday. The minister arrived in the UK on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of both countries for the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which will enter into force from July 15. Addressing the India Global Forum (IGF) UK-India Week at the start of his tour, the minister exhorted businesses in both countries to "seize the moment" and set ambitious targets to boost the estimated 48-billion-pound annual bilateral trading partnership on the back of CETA. "The UK free trade agreement will be the first most comprehensive agreement that India has entered into so far," said Goyal. "It's a partnership between two complementary economies, two growing economies. We understand each other,

JLR says local manufacturing plans remain unchanged as India opens its premium vehicle market to British imports while protecting lower-cost EV segments

Here are the key takeaways from the India-UK trade deal, from lower tariffs on cars and Scotch whisky to duty-free textile access, social security relief for professionals and steel export safeguards

About 90-95 per cent of Indian professionals employed by Indian companies operating in the UK would be benefitted from the social security agreement between the two countries, a move that will reduce costs for firms and enhance the competitiveness of Indian service providers in the British market, an official said. The two countries on June 17 announced that the Agreement on Social Security or the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will come into effect on July 15. The DCC will give a major boost to IT majors like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys. Professionals of Indian-origin contribute about USD 0.5 billion each year to the UK social security. Under the DCC, employees temporarily transferred by companies from India to the UK, or vice versa, will be exempt from making social security contributions in the host country for up to five years. It was a key demand of India. Around 75,000 Indian professionals are worki

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his British counterpart Keir Starmer and discussed ways to further deepen India-UK ties in areas such as trade, technology, innovation, defence, and clean energy. The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains in eastern France, also discussed regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia and the conflict in Ukraine. In a post on X, Modi described the meeting as "wonderful" and said the past year had been "outstanding" for India-UK relations. "The trade deal has opened many avenues of economic cooperation. Today's talks focused on how to add even more momentum to India-UK ties," he said. Modi said the two leaders discussed ways to work closely in areas such as innovation, artificial intelligence, skill development and sports, as well as measures to boost investment linkages for the benefit of the people of both countries. "India-UK ties continue to gain momentum across trade, ...

Goyal said the discussions focused on expanding partnerships that could drive economic growth and create mutual benefits for both countries

The joint platform will monitor global critical mineral supply chains, identify risks and support policymaking amid growing demand from clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said in a post on X that they took stock of progress and worked though the sticking points

Trade agreements with the US and the UK could help cushion some of the headwinds while attracting foreign investment at a time when the rupee is under great pressure

The Grant Thornton-CII-IGF tracker shows India-owned companies in the UK rose to a record 1,912 in 2026 amid growing trade ties after the India-UK free trade pact

India has flagged concerns in a key meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva over the UK's recent steel safeguard measures, an official said. From July 1, 2026, the UK will limit tariff-free steel imports, reducing the overall quota available under the existing safeguard measures by 60 per cent. Any imports above these levels will then face a 50 per cent tariff. The measure will apply to imports of steel products that can also be made in the UK. India, Brazil, Turkiye, Switzerland and Australia have expressed their concerns about the UK's proposed action, a Geneva-based official said. Japan and Korea, which initiated discussions, have also flagged concerns over the issue. Earlier, Britain had safeguard measures that also imposed import quotas. The new measures will reduce that quota. India's exports of iron and steel and their products to the UK stood at USD 893.4 million in 2025-26, accounting for a significant share of the USD 13.4 billion in total merchandise exports

India and the UK on Friday discussed ways to boost two-way commerce and investments and leverage opportunities under the comprehensive economic and trade agreement signed in July last year. It was discussed during a virtual meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle. "We explored ways to further enhance our trade and investment ties while fully leveraging the opportunities under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)," Goyal said in a social media post. India and the UK, on July 24, 2025, signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), under which 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while tariffs on British products, such as cars and whisky, will be reduced in India. CETA aims to double the USD 56 billion trade between the two economies by 2030.

The visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with both sides discussing issues ranging from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, signed in July last year, is likely to be implemented by early May, as both sides are "sorting out a few issues", officials said on Thursday. According to officials, the EU has indicated November as the timeline for the ratification of the trade pact with India, and its implementation is expected this year. However, they indicated that trade pact talks with Israel and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, have slowed amid the ongoing conflict in the region. On the US-India trade pact, officials said the process of the trade agreement "stands"; however, "any trade agreement is based on preferential market access versus competitors. If we get that, then the trade deal stands". On January 27 this year, India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement, described as 'mother of all deals', under which 93 per cent of Ind

UK parliamentary panel backs the India-UK FTA as historic but warns British firms may face delayed gains, sectoral risks and tougher competition from Indian exports

Former UK prime minister Liz Truss described India as a central force shaping the emerging global order during an event on Friday, where she was conferred an honorary degree. She was conferred with an honorary doctorate, recognising her leadership, public service, and contributions to global political discourse during the convocation ceremony of the Lovely Professional University at Phagwara in Punjab, according to a statement by the varsity. Addressing the convocation ceremony, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan urged graduates to carry forward the values of integrity, diversity, compassion, and service. Expressing concern over the growing challenge of drug abuse on campuses, the vice president appealed to students not only to reject drugs but also to actively prevent peers from falling into this trap, describing such vigilance as a meaningful contribution to society. The convocation was presided over by Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria. Kataria

The government moved to steady the economy amid global uncertainty. Crises at IndiGo and BluSmart, meanwhile, underlined the need for tighter oversight and stronger governance

Among the shared history, food, and architecture, India and the United Kingdom are also connected through a deeply immersed force of healthcare professionals. But what was once considered a deliberate choice of destination a place to build a home away from home no longer remains the same for Indians, especially for the medical professionals facing the impact of recent policy changes in the UK. Speaking to PTI, senior doctors of Indian origin working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) said many Indian health professionals are choosing to leave the UK not out of dissatisfaction with clinical work, but because financial and immigration pressures have made the UK a less viable long-term option. The doctors interviewed for this report spoke in their personal capacity and did not represent the views of the NHS or their employer. Indian government data presented during the Winter Session of Parliament showed that Health and Care Worker visas issued to Indian nationals fell by abo