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Informist, Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and the UK came into force Wednesday nearly a year after it was signed. With the operationalisation of the agreement, India exported goods worth $140 million to the UK, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said Wednesday. 

 

The government will work closely with industry bodies and exporters to ensure businesses on the ground fully understand and utilise the opportunities created by the agreement, he said. "If we are able to convert these opportunities into real outcomes, it will mean jobs and livelihoods for both nations," Agarwal said. 

 

Under the deal, the UK has committed to tariff concessions on 99% of India's exports to the UK. India has offered duty cuts on 90% of the tariff lines. 

 

"With the coming into force of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Agreement on Social Security, our economic linkages are going to get even deeper," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on the social media platform X. "Together, these agreements translate our shared ambition into tangible opportunities for our people." 

 

"The CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) will give fresh momentum to our farmers, entrepreneurs and MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises). Several vibrant sectors will gain stronger access to the UK market. It will also deepen cooperation in technology, professional services and innovation, while supporting greater mobility for skilled Indian talent," he added. 

 

India is aiming to achieve a $100 billion bilateral trade with the UK in 3-4 years. In FY26, India and the UK's total trade was $25.13 billion, up 9%. India exported goods worth $13.44 billion and imported goods worth $11.68 billion.

 

The trade agreement consists of 30 chapters that cover trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and digital trade, among other areas. Moreover, a separate Double Contribution Convention, which also came into effect on Wednesday, exempts eligible Indian professionals temporarily working in the UK from paying social security contributions in both countries for a specified period, reducing costs for employees and employers.

 

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal thanked UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle and the negotiating teams for their commitment to bringing the agreement to fruition. "Together, we remain committed to building a resilient, innovation-driven partnership that will drive growth, investment and shared prosperity for generations to come," Goyal said in a post on X. End

 

US$1 = INR 96.26

 

Reported by Pratiksha

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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