UK steel curbs delaying rollout of free trade agreement, says commerce secretary
This story was originally published at 19:29 IST on 15 May 2026
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NEW DELHI – The rollout of India's trade deal with the UK is facing a delay because of Britain's new curbs on steel imports, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said Friday. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, signed in July, was expected to be operationalised in May.
"On India-UK FTA (free trade agreement), I think we are very near to operationalising that. There are a few sticking points," Agrawal told a press conference. Starting Jul. 1, the UK will cut quotas on steel imports by 60% and raise duties outside those quotas to 50% in an effort to shield domestic steel producers. These curbs, Agrawal said, were not factored in when the trade agreement was being negotiated.
"We are working together to find a unique, creative solution around the steel measure so that we can officialise the India-UK CETA at an early date," he said. Under the trade deal, the UK has committed to tariff concessions on 99% of Indian goods exports to the country. New Delhi has also offered duty cuts on 90% tariff lines. End
Reported by Shubham Rana
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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