The first zero-duty consignments of Indian jewellery and coffee have arrived in the UK following the implementation of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into force on July 15.
The milestone was marked at the High Commission of India in London, where officials showcased products already benefiting from reduced or zero tariffs under the free trade agreement. The pact covers nearly 99 per cent of tariff lines for Indian exports to the UK, signalling broad-based gains for exporters.
“A few consignments have already arrived under the CETA, which basically covers about 99 per cent of all the tariff lines under which India exports to the UK, and therefore we expect that the benefits will be significant,” said P Kumaran, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
Among early beneficiaries are London-based jewellery importer Nysa Creations and Odisha’s Kruti Coffee, which is preparing to launch its first UK café. Kruti Coffee’s shipment, dispatched from Kolkata, marks the brand’s international debut under the agreement.
CETA is expected to play a pivotal role in scaling bilateral trade from the current $65 billion to $100 billion by 2030. Officials highlighted its potential to strengthen supply chains, boost manufacturing ecosystems, and generate employment across both economies.
The agreement’s entry into force was celebrated with a ceremonial event attended by representatives from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, alongside the launch of a dedicated LinkedIn-based facilitation platform by the Indian High Commission to support exporters and investors.
According to UK estimates, the agreement could increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually over the long term, while contributing £5.1 billion to India’s GDP and £4.8 billion to the UK’s GDP.
The event also spotlighted a new FICCI toolkit designed to help Indian businesses navigate UK import regulations under CETA. Titled ‘India–UK CETA: A Guide to UK Import Requirements for Indian Exporters’, the resource aims to support SMEs in expanding their footprint in the British market.
