India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a modern and comprehensive trade agreement, marking a major milestone in their bilateral relationship at a time of rising geopolitical polarisation and trade wars. Under the agreement, 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the UK duty-free, while 90 per cent of UK goods will gain market access in India with zero tariffs.
In the past week, textile stocks have fallen by up to 18 per cent following Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff
The India-UK trade deal is a balanced and comprehensive agreement expected to create millions of jobs and open vast opportunities for bilateral trade and investment, benefiting both nations
Updated On : 29 Jul 2025 | 5:11 PM ISTThe framework will help Indian manufacturers expand market share in the UK vis-a-vis its global competitors like China, Brazil, and Vietnam who face non-preferential duty
Updated On : 29 Jul 2025 | 3:51 PM ISTThe India-UK free trade agreement, which was signed on July 24, will lead to a loss of customs revenue for both the countries
Updated On : 28 Jul 2025 | 2:11 PM ISTIndian businesses are in pole position to benefit from measures announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves
Today's Opinion pieces look at the potential for growth in India-UK trade, the hurdles to the Gaza peace plan, India's geopolitical opportunity, and Trump's hidden call for global change
Earlier in the day, the UK PM held meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the two leaders addressed the India-UK CEOs Forum and Global Fintech Fest
During his trade visit to Mumbai, the UK Prime Minister said the new free trade agreement does not include any expansion of visa access for Indian professionals
The two will also engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the India-UK CETA as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership
The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has opened an inquiry this week into the impacts and implications of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Britain in July. The cross-party panel, which includes British Indian Conservative peer Baroness Sandy Verma, is seeking evidence from experts and stakeholders as part of the parliamentary process before the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) can come into effect. With a target to double bilateral trade to USD 120 billion by 2030, the CETA has been pitched by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer-led government as a landmark agreement" that will increase trade by 25.5 billion pounds and UK GDP by 4.8 billion pounds annually in the long run. As we undertake a new programme of evidence gathering, covering the terms of the FTA, its potential benefits and disadvantages, and provisions for key UK sectors, among other issues, we encourage anyone with experience
India-UK FTA allows chefs, yoga experts, musicians and other professionals to work in Britain, with 1,800 visas offered annually for niche roles
Our daily wrap of today's Opinion page traverses the India-UK FTA, what the RBI needs to do to make the financial inclusion index more transparent, US tariffs, and the Jane Street affair
India's fisheries and aquaculture sectors are experiencing significant growth following the UK trade deal and a MoU with the Maldives, which will improve seafood exports and enhance infrastructure
For FY26, the Centre has budgeted Customs revenues to grow only 2.1 per cent to ₹2.4 trillion
The question is how much this shift in mindset can be applied now to other trading partners, particularly the European Union (EU)
India has granted tariff concessions to a wide range of British goods under the recently signed free trade agreement (FTA), including pastries, pet food, cosmetics and microwave ovens, while keeping sensitive sectors out to safeguard domestic interests. The comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), which was signed on July 24, also offers duty-free access to UK products such as cakes, protein concentrates, dog and cat food, soaps, shaving cream, detergents, and home appliances like air conditioners and washing machines. However, the concessions are phased across sectors to give Indian industry sufficient time to prepare for enhanced competition from UK firms. The agreement will come into force in about a year as it requires approval from the British Parliament. According to the analysis of think tank GTRI, India has committed to reducing or eliminating import tariffs on nearly 90 per cent of goods originating from the United Kingdom. "The agreement includes phased concess
The free trade agreement between India and the UK will help boost the country's chemical exports and domestic manufacturing as a number of product categories from the segment will enjoy duty-free access in Britain, CHEMEXCIL said on Sunday. Chemicals exporters body CHEMEXCIL (Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics and Dyes Export Promotion Council) said that under the trade agreement, more than 1,000 tariff lines (or product categories) from the chemicals sectors are granted zero-duty access to the UK market. This includes key product categories such as organic chemicals, agrochemicals, cosmetics toiletries, essential oil, speciality chemicals, and petrochemicals, CHEMEXCIL Chairman Satish Wagh said. With a 12.4 per cent contribution to the total trade agreement tariff lines, the chemical sector is among the largest beneficiaries of this agreement, strengthening its position in trade policy and classification, he said. India's current chemical exports to the UK stand at USD 570.32 million, ...
The government will organise as many as 1,000 outreach programmes, including stakeholder meetings, workshops, awareness drives and feedback sessions, in the next 20 days across the country to sensitise industry and states on the India-UK trade agreement, sources said. The exercise is aimed at ensuring effective implementation and maximising benefits from the comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), which was signed on July 24. They said that there is a plan to hold sector-wise outreach programmes. Teams will also visit different states to inform them about the benefits of this trade agreement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold a meeting with the leather and textiles sector on the trade pact here on Monday. The pact will see 99 per cent of Indian exports enter the UK duty-free, when it comes into force. It will also reduce tariffs on British products such as cars, cosmetics, and whisky. The deal aims to double the USD 56-billion trade between the worl
The CETA will allow duty-free access to 95 per cent of India's agriculture exports to the UK, which accounts for a bit over five per cent of the goods exported to the UK
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