**Executive Summary**
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed to strengthen economic partnership between the two countries. The agreement, signed on July 24, 2025, aims to boost bilateral trade, with a goal to double it by 2030. It focuses on unprecedented market access and enhanced global mobility for Indian professionals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Market Access**
* Zero-duty access for 99% of Indian goods exports to the UK, covering nearly 100% of trade value.
* Benefits for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, footwear, gems & jewellery, marine products, and toys.
* **Services**
* Wide-ranging package covering IT/ITeS, financial and professional services, business consulting, education, telecom, architecture, and engineering.
* **Mobility**
* Streamlined pathways for Contractual Service Suppliers, Business Visitors, Intra-Corporate Transferees, and Independent Professionals.
* **Double Contribution Convention (DCC)**
* Exemption from social security contributions in the UK for Indian workers and their employers for up to three years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Exporters**
* **Impact:** Improved access to the UK market with reduced or eliminated tariffs, increasing export opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Identify and capitalize on opportunities for increased exports to the UK.
**Indian Professionals**
* **Impact:** Enhanced mobility and easier access to work in the UK, simplified visa procedures, and liberalised entry categories.
* **Action Required:** Explore job opportunities in the UK under the simplified visa and entry processes.
**Indian Workers/Employers in the UK**
* **Impact:** Exemption from social security contributions in the UK for up to three years.
* **Action Required:** Understand and utilise the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) to reduce social security costs.
**UK Importers**
* **Impact:** Reduced costs on goods imported from India and greater variety of products offered to consumers.
* **Action Required:** Adjust supply chains to capitalize on the new trade arrangements with India.
**Women, Youth, Farmers, Fisherman, Startups, and MSMEs**
* **Impact:** Greater integration into global value chains.
* **Action Required:** Explore opportunities for growth and innovation under the new trade agreement.
Key Entities Referenced
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA): A trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom aimed at fostering economic partnership and trade opportunities.
United Kingdom: One of the two countries involved in the CETA, granting access to Indian exports with zero-duty tariffs on a wide range of goods.
India: One of the two countries involved in the CETA, gaining unprecedented market access for its goods and services.
Double Contribution Convention (DCC): A provision within CETA that exempts Indian workers and their employers from social security contributions in the UK for up to three years.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The Indian ministry responsible for signing the CETA on behalf of India.
7/24/25, 6:06 PM Press Release:Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India and UK Sign Comprehensive Economic and
Trade Agreement (CETA)
Historic Agreement Sealed: India and UK Sign Landmark Trade
Agreement, Advancing a New Era of Economic Partnership
and Opportunity under the visionary leadership of Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi
In the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, UK
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the agreement was signed by
Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal and
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan
Reynolds. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs and
Ms. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer were also
present.
Agreement Unlocks Export Opportunity for Labour-Intensive
Sectors including textiles, leather, footwear, gems & jewellery,
marine products, and toys—generating large-scale employment
and empowering artisans, women-led enterprises, and MSMEs
Unprecedented Market Access for Indian Goods with Zero-duty
access on 99% of tariff lines, covering nearly 100% of the trade
value
Ambitious Services Commitments – A First by the UK
A wide-ranging package covering IT/ITeS, financial and
professional services, business consulting, education, telecom,
architecture, and engineering—unlocking high-value
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147805 1/37/24/25, 6:06 PM Press Release:Press Information Bureau
opportunities and job creation.
Enhanced Global Mobility for Indian Professionals
Streamlined pathways for Contractual Service Suppliers,
Business Visitors, Intra-Corporate Transferees, Independent
Professionals (e.g., yoga instructors, chefs, and musicians),
and enabling smoother talent flow and cross-border
collaboration.
Double Contribution Convention (DCC) – A Major
Breakthrough: It will exempt Indian workers and their
employers from social security contributions in the UK for up to
three years, significantly improving take-home pay and
reducing costs for Indian companies
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 5:13PM by PIB Delhi
India and the United Kingdom have taken a major step in building a stronger economic partnership with
the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) today under the visionary
leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The agreement was signed by Commerce and
Industry Minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan
Reynolds in the presence of the two Prime Ministers.
This FTA marks a significant milestone in India’s engagement with major developed economies and
reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic integration. As the world’s fourth and sixth
largest economies respectively, India and the UK’s bilateral engagement holds global economic
significance. The signing of the India-UK CETA follows the successful conclusion of negotiations
announced on 6th May 2025. The bilateral trade between the two countries stand at nearly USD 56
billion, with a joint goal to double this figure by 2030.
CETA secures unprecedented duty-free access for 99% of India’s exports to the UK, covering nearly the
entire trade basket. This is expected to open new opportunities for labour-intensive industries such as
textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems and jewellery, alongside fast-
growing sectors like engineering goods, auto components, and organic chemicals.
The services sector, a strong driver of India’s economy, will also see wide-ranging benefits. The
agreement provides greater market access in IT and IT-enabled services, financial and legal services,
professional and educational services, and digital trade. Indian professionals, including those deployed
by companies to work in UK across all services sectors, professionals deployed on contracts such as
architects, engineers, chefs, yoga instructors, and musicians, will benefit from simplified visa procedures
and liberalised entry categories, making it easier for talent to work in the UK.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147805 2/37/24/25, 6:06 PM Press Release:Press Information Bureau
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, conveyed profound gratitude to the Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and resolute commitment, which have been
instrumental in achieving this historic agreement. He stated:
“This CETA marks a milestone in the trade relations between two major economies, setting an ambitious
and balanced framework. It unlocks tariff-free access on 99% of Indian exports to the UK, covering
nearly 100% of trade value- including labour-intensive sectors advancing the ‘Make in India’ initiative
and setting the stage for bilateral trade to double by 2030. It includes ambitious commitments in goods
and services, covering various sectors, while enhancing mobility for Indian professionals by simplifying
access for contractual service providers, business visitors, and independent professionals. The innovative
Double Contribution Convention will exempt Indian workers and their employers from UK social
security contributions for three years, boosting competitiveness and earnings. This FTA will serve as a
catalyst for inclusive growth, benefiting farmers, artisans, workers, MSMEs, startups, and innovators
while safeguarding India’s core interests and accelerating our journey towards becoming a global
economic powerhouse.”
India has also secured an agreement on the Double Contribution Convention. This will exempt Indian
professionals and their employers from social security payments in the UK for up to three years,
improving the cost competitiveness of Indian talent.
The agreement has been designed to make trade more inclusive. Women and youth entrepreneurs,
farmers, fishermen, startups, and MSMEs will gain new access to global value chains, supported by
provisions that encourage innovation, promote sustainable practices, and reduce non-tariff barriers.
CETA is expected to boost trade volumes significantly in the coming years, creating jobs, expanding
exports, and supporting a deeper, more resilient economic relationship between India and the United
Kingdom.
***
Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan
(Release ID: 2147805)
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147805 3/3