Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Structure and Timeline
CETA is a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) covering goods, services, investment, and related regulatory cooperation, distinguished from a narrower Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which covers only a limited tariff line list. Negotiations between India and the UK began in January 2022; the agreement in principle was concluded in May 2025, the treaty text was formally signed in July 2025, and it entered into force on 15 July 2026 — roughly a year after signing, reflecting the time needed for domestic ratification (UK parliamentary scrutiny) and implementation notifications (India's Foreign Trade Policy and customs circulars).
- Negotiations launched: January 2022; Agreement in Principle: May 2025; Signed: July 2025; In force: 15 July 2026
- UK removes/reduces tariffs on 99.5% of trade value and 98.8% of tariff lines
- Sector-specific cuts (to zero, phased): up to 70% on processed foods, 21.5% on marine products, 18% on engineering goods/auto components, 16% on leather and footwear, 12% on textiles and garments, 8% on chemicals and pharmaceuticals; gems and jewellery duty eliminated in full
- This is India's most significant FTA with a G7/developed economy after the India-UAE CEPA (2022) and India-Australia ECTA (2022), and the first comprehensive FTA with a major European economy since Brexit
● Tracked since May 01, 2026 · last seen July 15, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes