India and UK Trade Pact Expected to Take Effect Within a Month

India-UK Free Trade Agreement Implementation Expected in Mid-April

The India-UK free trade agreement, signed on July 24, 2025, is expected to be implemented in mid-April 2026. Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister, announced this update on Friday, highlighting the swift approval process by the UK parliament.

Key Provisions

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will eliminate duties on 99% of Indian exports entering the British market. In return, tariffs on British products, such as cars and whisky, will be reduced in India. The agreement will come into force on a mutually agreed date following UK parliament approval.

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Implementation Timeline

The UK parliament typically takes 1.5 years to approve such agreements. However, the India-UK agreement is expected to be implemented in just one month, demonstrating a notably fast approval process. In addition to CETA, the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) will also come into force, exempting Indian professionals and their employers from social security payments in the UK for up to three years.

Trade Goals

CETA aims to double the current $56 billion trade between the world's fourth and sixth largest economies by 2030. This agreement is expected to have a significant impact on bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and the UK.

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