India-UK free trade pact to come into force on July 15

Business 17 Jun, 2026

India-UK free trade pact to come into force on July 15

Business To Business, New Delhi, 17^th June, 2026: India and the United Kingdom will bring their Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into force on July 15, 2026, according to an announcement by India's Commerce Ministry.
The agreement was signed on July 24, 2025, and marks one of India's most significant bilateral trade deals in recent years.
The ministry said:
"In a major stride for India's global economic engagement, India and the United Kingdom today announced that the CETA will enter into force on 15th July 2026."
The India-UK CETA is expected to:

Increase bilateral trade and investment.
Improve market access for goods and services.
Strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Create new opportunities for businesses, exporters, and professionals.
Enhance supply-chain integration and investment flows.

The agreement is expected to benefit a wide range of sectors, including:

Textiles and apparel.
Pharmaceuticals.
Engineering goods.
Information technology and professional services.
Food and agricultural products.
Manufacturing and advanced technology industries.

The UK is one of India's major trading and investment partners. The implementation of CETA is expected to deepen economic ties and support growth in two-way commerce.
For India, the agreement forms part of a broader strategy to expand trade partnerships with major economies and integrate more deeply into global value chains. For the UK, it strengthens economic engagement with one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.
With the agreement taking effect on July 15, businesses in both countries are expected to gain access to new trade opportunities, reduced barriers, and a more predictable framework for commercial engagement, potentially boosting trade volumes and investment in the years ahead.