London, July 25:Ā India and the UK on Thursday inked a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) that will cut tariffs on British whisky, cars and an array of items, besides boosting bilateral trade by around USD 34 billion annuallyThe deal was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynold in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer.
The FTA is expected to benefit 99 per cent Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, besides boosting the overall trade basket, according to Indian officials.
The deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, they said.
The UK said Indian consumers will benefit from improved access to the best British products — from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices — as average tariffs will drop from 15 per cent to 3 per cent after the FTA kicks in.
The UK already imports 11 billion pounds in goods from India but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper for British consumers and businesses to buy Indian products and boost Indian businesses’ exports to the UK, it said in a statement, hours before the FTA was inked.
“Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain,” Starmer was quoted as saying in the readout.
Indian officials said India’s landmark free trade pact with the UK will benefit it significantly as the deal will ensure the elimination of tariffs on approximately 99 per cent of tariff lines, covering nearly 100 per cent of the trade value.
India has protected the interest of domestic farmers by excluding dairy products, edible oils and apples in the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK while securing zero duties on 95 per cent of agriculture and processed food items.
No tariff concession has been allowed on oats as well in the FTA, which was signed on Thursday.
On the other hand, Indian staples like turmeric, pepper, cardamom; processed goods like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses; and marine products such as shrimp and tuna will enjoy duty-free access in the UK market, boosting India’s agri exports by 20 per cent over the next three years.
A commerce ministry official said there has been a major gain in the food processing sector as products that earlier faced duties up to 70 per cent will now enjoy zero duty on 99.7 per cent of tariff lines.
In marine and animal products, the duties will come down to zero from up to 20 per cent.
“India’s farmers are poised to be the biggest winners of the FTA, which unlocks premium UK markets for their produce, matching or exceeding the benefits already enjoyed by exporters from Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU nations,” a commerce ministry official said.
More than 95 per cent of agricultural and processed food tariff lines will attract zero duties on fruits, vegetables, cereals; pickles, spice mixes, fruit pulps; and ready-to-eat meals and processed foods.
This will lead to reduction in landed cost of these Indian products in the UK market, boosting India’s export and enhancing income of domestic farmers.