Why Boards, CEOs and Business
Leaders Must Look Beyond Tariffs
With effect from 15 July 2026, the India-
UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade
Agreement (CETA) and the accompanying
Double Contributions Convention (DCC) have
entered into force, marking a material reset of
the bilateral trade and commercial framework.
India will remove or reduce tariffs on 90% of
tariff lines, covering 92% of existing goods
imports from the United Kingdom, with 64%
of tariff lines receiving tariff-free treatment
at entry into force and 85% becoming eligible
for tariff-free entry after staging. The United
Kingdom has, in turn, liberalized tariffs
across almost all qualifying Indian exports.
The agreement extends well beyond goods
to services, digital trade, business mobility,
government procurement, customs facilitation,
regulatory cooperation, and intellectual
property.