Overview
- The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) took effect on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and the UK removed duties on roughly 99% of the value of Indian exports into Britain.
- An accompanying Agreement on Social Security grants Indian professionals posted to the UK a five‑year exemption from paying social security in both countries, reducing costs for IT and services firms.
- India will phase down tariffs on selected UK imports under quotas and staged schedules, including large concessions for fully built UK cars and stepped cuts to Scotch whisky duties that will fall toward about 40% by year ten.
- Trade experts warn that meeting UK technical, food‑safety and origin rules plus distribution costs and the UK’s tightened steel safeguard will determine how much duty relief translates into higher Indian shipments.
- The deal opens around 40,000 central government procurement contracts to UK suppliers and is part of a broader push by India to deepen market access with developed economies while boosting exports and investment.