Last Updated: October 18, 2026 by Pratham Agarwal, Rasp International
The short answer
Since 15 July 2026 the India UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) gives zero duty access on about 99 percent of India’s exports to the UK, by the Ministry of Commerce release of 17 June 2026 (PIB release 2274280). To use it you need a proof of origin, filed on the Trade Connect ePlatform under DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated 13 July 2026, a UK importer with an EORI number and the product rules the UK applies at its border.
The rule that decides everything: the duty cut is claimed by your UK buyer at import, and it stands or falls on your proof of origin matching the shipment, so settle the origin position before you quote a price.
Verified as on 18 October 2026 against PIB releases 2274280 and 2285085, DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated 13 July 2026, the Handbook of Procedures Chapter 2, the UK India CETA Chapter 3 text on gov.uk and the UK Department for Business and Trade India factsheet of 31 July 2026. Written by Pratham Agarwal, Founder, Rasp International.
99%
of India’s exports to the UK get zero duty access under the CETA, by PIB release 2274280
15 July 2026
the day the India UK CETA entered into force, by PIB release 2285085
12 months
validity of a proof of origin under CETA Article 3.15
No fee
for a self-declared proof of origin on Trade Connect, by DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27
On this page
- Key facts at a glance
- India UK trade relationship
- Top exports from India to the UK
- UK tariff regime after the India UK CETA
- How to get the India UK CETA proof of origin
- Documentation required for India to UK shipments
- UK regulatory compliance every Indian exporter must know
- Payment terms and banking
- Shipping routes and logistics
- Common challenges Indian exporters face in the UK
- What Is Not Yet Notified, Checked on 18 October 2026
- Frequently asked questions
- How Rasp International supports UK exporters
- Sources
Key facts at a glance
| Fact | Position |
|---|
| Agreement | India UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in London on 24 July 2025, in force since 15 July 2026, by PIB release 2285085 |
| Duty position | Zero duty on about 99 percent of India’s exports to the UK, by PIB release 2274280; some lines phased |
| Proof of origin | Self-declaration or agency issue on the Trade Connect ePlatform under DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27, or an origin declaration or the importer’s knowledge under CETA Chapter 3 |
| Fee | No fee for a self-declared proof of origin; the trade notice does not print an agency fee |
| Validity of the proof | 12 months under Article 3.15 |
| Importer requirement | The UK importer needs an EORI number; the Indian exporter does not |
| Older preference | The Developing Countries Trading Scheme stays usable on some lines until 15 July 2028, by the gov.uk graduation notice of 4 September 2026 |
| Tax treaty | India UK Double Taxation Convention in force since 25 October 1993 |
India UK trade relationship
The UK counts India as its 11th largest trading partner. In the four quarters to the end of March 2026 the UK imported £28.2 billion from India, of which £10.9 billion was goods and £17.3 billion was services, by the UK Department for Business and Trade factsheet of 31 July 2026. Total trade in both directions was £48.4 billion in the same period.
The India UK CETA was signed in London on 24 July 2025 and entered into force on 15 July 2026, together with the agreement on social security for posted workers, by PIB release 2285085 of 15 July 2026. The UK government’s own notice of 17 July 2026 puts it this way: 99 percent of Indian goods entering the UK are now duty free or carry a reduced tariff. Before the agreement, Indian goods paid the UK Global Tariff or used the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme, and textiles and clothing carried a 12 percent duty, by the PIB explainer of 27 July 2025.
Top exports from India to the UK
The UK factsheet of 31 July 2026 lists the largest UK goods imports from India in the four quarters to the end of March 2026:
- Clothing, £975.9 million
- Mechanical power generators and intermediate engineering goods, £897.0 million
- Refined oil, £884.0 million
- Medicinal and pharmaceutical products, £693.4 million
- Organic chemicals, £548.1 million
The Ministry of Commerce names textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, marine products, chemicals and processed foods as the sectors with the largest gains under the agreement, by PIB release 2285085. The signing day release of 24 July 2025 (PIB release 2147805) adds footwear, sports goods, toys and auto components to that list.
UK tariff regime after the India UK CETA
The UK applies the UK Global Tariff to imports unless a trade agreement or a preference scheme applies, by the gov.uk guidance on tariffs on goods imported into the UK. Three routes now exist for Indian goods, and your buyer picks one at the time of import.
| Route | What it gives | Proof needed | Source |
|---|
| India UK CETA | Zero duty on about 99 percent of India’s exports, with some lines phased | Origin declaration by the exporter or producer, a certificate of origin from an issuing authority or the importer’s knowledge (CETA Chapter 3, Article 3.15) | PIB release 2274280; CETA Chapter 3 on gov.uk |
| Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), Standard Preferences | Zero duty on 65 percent of product lines; India leaves the scheme on 15 July 2028 and may use either route until then | DCTS origin proof | gov.uk DCTS preference tiers; gov.uk country graduation notice of 4 September 2026 |
| UK Global Tariff | The standard duty on the commodity code | None | gov.uk tariffs guidance; UK Integrated Online Tariff |
Look up the exact duty for your product on the UK Integrated Online Tariff at trade-tariff.service.gov.uk, which lists the commodity code, the standard duty, the VAT rate and the preferential rate under the agreement. Under Article 3.18 of CETA Chapter 3, the UK grants the preference without any proof of origin when the customs value of the importation does not exceed £1,000, which matters for sample and courier shipments.
How to get the India UK CETA proof of origin
Self-declaration on Trade Connect needs a Digital Signature Certificate and carries no fee.DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated 13 July 2026 put the preferential Certificate of Origin for the UK on the Trade Connect ePlatform at trade.gov.in from 15 July 2026, using the exporter’s existing DGFT login. The notice gives two routes.
1
Self-declaration
The exporter files the certificate under its own Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which the notice makes mandatory for this route, or with Aadhaar authentication, and the notice states that no fee is paid. A scanned ink signature is uploaded and the system issues two copies with a QR code. Chapter 2 of the Handbook of Procedures confirms that self-declaration is allowed for the India UK CETA in addition to agency issue.
2
Agency issued
The exporter applies on the same platform and an authorised agency issues the certificate. The trade notice does not print an agency fee, so ask the agency before you file.
3
Origin declaration or importer’s knowledge
CETA Chapter 3 also lets the UK importer claim on an origin declaration completed by the exporter or producer, or on its own knowledge of the origin. A proof of origin is valid for 12 months under Article 3.15. Agree with your buyer which proof the buyer’s customs broker will use.
The product rules sit in the Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the India UK CETA) Rules, 2026, which CBIC brought into force on 15 July 2026, and ICEGATE published an advisory on the rules of origin on 13 July 2026. Goods must be wholly obtained in India or meet the product specific rule, which is usually a change in tariff classification, a value content floor or both. Check the rule for your tariff line in the notification text on cbic.gov.in before you sign a self-declaration, because the exporter carries the origin risk on that route. Our guide to the India UK CETA certificate of origin walks through the platform screens.
Ask Rasp International about your UK shipment
Documentation required for India to UK shipments
- Commercial invoice with the buyer’s EORI number, the commodity code, the Incoterm and the currency
- Packing list with weights, dimensions and package count
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Proof of origin for the CETA claim: the Trade Connect certificate, an origin declaration or the buyer’s own knowledge, as agreed with the buyer
- Shipping bill filed on ICEGATE, with the invoice number matching the certificate of origin
- Export health certificate for animal origin food, and a phytosanitary certificate for plant products, where the UK risk category asks for one
- CE or UKCA conformity file for products covered by UK product safety rules
- Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) where the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 asks for one, and the IEC on every document
The UK importer, not the Indian exporter, needs the Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number to move goods into Great Britain, by the gov.uk EORI guidance. A business not established in the UK must appoint someone in the UK to act for it. Put the buyer’s EORI on the invoice, because the UK customs declaration is filed against it.
UK regulatory compliance every Indian exporter must know
UKCA and CE marking
The UK continues to recognise the CE marking for most product sectors under the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024, by the gov.uk guidance on using the UKCA marking updated on 21 August 2026. A product that already carries a valid CE mark for the EU can usually enter Great Britain on that basis. The UKCA mark may be placed on a label or an accompanying document until 31 December 2027 under the same guidance. Check the sector page on gov.uk for medical devices and construction products, which run on their own timetables.
Border Target Operating Model for food, plants and animal products
Medium and high risk food needs a health certificate and a notice on the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) at least one working day before arrival.Great Britain sorts animal origin food, plants and plant products into low, medium and high risk categories under the Border Target Operating Model, by the gov.uk risk category list updated on 1 April 2025. Low risk goods need no health certificate and no routine inspection. Medium risk goods need a health certificate and are inspected at a rate of 1 to 30 percent. High risk goods need a health certificate and are inspected every time. For all three, the importer must pre-notify through IPAFFS, the UK import notification system, at least one working day before the goods arrive. Rice, spices, tea, processed food and marine products each sit in a category, so check the list before the first shipment.
Chemicals and REACH
Great Britain runs its own UK REACH regime for chemicals, separate from EU REACH. Registration duties fall on the UK importer or a UK based only representative. Indian exporters of dyes, intermediates and specialty chemicals should confirm with the buyer who holds the UK REACH registration before the first order. Check the current UK REACH deadlines on gov.uk, because the registration dates have moved more than once.
Textiles and clothing labels
Clothing sold in the UK must carry fibre composition labelling under the UK textile labelling rules. Care labels and country of origin marks follow the buyer’s own requirements. Agree the label text with the buyer before production, because relabelling in the UK costs more than the duty saved.
Payment terms and banking
UK buyers trade in pounds sterling and expect quotations in GBP or USD. Common terms are a letter of credit for a new relationship, documents against payment for commodity trade and open account terms for established buyers, usually with ECGC cover (ECGC is the government owned export credit insurer) on the buyer. Quote in GBP only if you can hedge the GBP to INR movement, and get the payment terms into the purchase order, not only into the email chain.
The 1993 India UK Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 25 October 1993, by the HMRC tax treaties page on gov.uk, and matters to service exporters and to firms receiving royalties or fees from the UK. Goods exports are zero rated under Indian GST, either with payment of IGST and a refund or under a Letter of Undertaking without payment.
Shipping routes and logistics
Indian containers to the UK sail from Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Pipavav and Chennai to Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton and Liverpool. Transit time depends on whether the carrier routes through the Suez Canal or round the Cape of Good Hope, so get the current transit time from your forwarder for each sailing rather than relying on a published average. Air cargo moves through London Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Two documents decide the timing at the UK end: the proof of origin, which the buyer’s broker needs before the import declaration, and the IPAFFS pre-notification for food and plant products, which must be filed at least one working day before arrival. Send both to the buyer when the goods leave India, not when they land.
Common challenges Indian exporters face in the UK
- Origin proof that does not match the shipment. The invoice number on the certificate must match the shipping bill and the invoice the buyer presents. A mismatch means the buyer pays the full duty and asks you for the difference.
- Choosing the wrong proof route. Self-declaration puts the origin risk on the exporter, and a wrong declaration can be questioned up to years later. Agency issue costs time. Decide per product, not per shipment.
- Treating CETA as the only route. Until 15 July 2028 the buyer can still use the Developing Countries Trading Scheme on some lines, by the gov.uk graduation notice of 4 September 2026. Compare both rates on the UK tariff tool.
- Food and plant shipments without a pre-notification. Goods in a medium or high risk category without a health certificate and an IPAFFS entry are held at the border.
- Labels and marks fixed after production. UKCA or CE, fibre content and the buyer’s care label all need settling before the goods are made.
Shipping to the UK and not sure which proof of origin your buyer’s broker will accept?
Rasp International checks the product rule, prepares the Trade Connect certificate in your firm’s name and matches it to the shipping bill before the goods leave.
What Is Not Yet Notified, Checked on 18 October 2026
- The fee an authorised agency charges for an agency issued India UK CETA certificate. The trade notice is silent. Ask the agency or check with the Regional Authority of DGFT.
- India’s own export figure to the UK for FY 2025-26 by product group. The PIB release of 28 July 2026 gives the coverage line only. Check DGCIS trade statistics on commerce.gov.in.
- The exact phasing schedule for the UK lines that are not duty free on day one. Check the commodity code on the UK Integrated Online Tariff.
- The current UK REACH registration deadlines for your substance. Check with the UK importer and the gov.uk UK REACH pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is the India UK free trade agreement in force?
Yes. The India UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement was signed on 24 July 2025 and entered into force on 15 July 2026, by PIB release 2285085 of that date and the UK government notice of 17 July 2026. Preferential certificates of origin have been issued on Trade Connect since the same day.
How much duty do Indian goods pay in the UK now?
About 99 percent of India’s exports to the UK get zero duty under the agreement, by PIB release 2274280 of 17 June 2026, with some lines phased over time. The exact rate for your product is on the UK Integrated Online Tariff against the commodity code. Before the agreement, textiles and clothing paid 12 percent.
Do I need a certificate of origin to export to the UK?
To claim the CETA duty cut, yes, in one of three forms: a certificate issued on Trade Connect, an origin declaration by the exporter or producer or the importer’s own knowledge, under Article 3.15 of CETA Chapter 3. For a shipment valued up to £1,000 the UK asks for no proof under Article 3.18.
What is the fee for the India UK CETA certificate of origin?
DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated 13 July 2026 states that a self-declaration certificate is filed with a Digital Signature Certificate or Aadhaar authentication without payment of any fee. The notice does not print a fee for the agency issued route, so ask the agency before you apply.
Do I need an EORI number to export to the UK?
No. The Economic Operators Registration and Identification number belongs to the UK importer, who needs it to move goods into Great Britain, by the gov.uk EORI guidance. Your job is to print the buyer’s EORI on the commercial invoice so the customs declaration matches your papers.
Is CE marking accepted in the UK or do I need UKCA?
The UK continues to recognise the CE marking for most sectors under the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024, by the gov.uk guidance updated on 21 August 2026. UKCA remains available and may sit on a label or document until 31 December 2027. Medical devices and construction products follow their own sector rules.
What are the UK import rules for food from India?
Animal origin food and plant products fall into low, medium or high risk categories under the Border Target Operating Model, by the gov.uk list updated on 1 April 2025. Medium and high risk goods need a health certificate, and every category needs an IPAFFS pre-notification at least one working day before arrival.
Can my buyer still use the Developing Countries Trading Scheme for Indian goods?
Yes, until India leaves the scheme on 15 July 2028, by the gov.uk country graduation notice of 4 September 2026. India sits in the Standard Preferences tier, which gives zero duty on 65 percent of product lines. During the transition the buyer may claim under the scheme or the agreement, whichever rate is better.
Which Indian products gain most from the India UK CETA?
The Ministry of Commerce names textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, marine products, chemicals and processed foods in PIB release 2285085 of 15 July 2026, and footwear, sports goods, toys and auto components in the signing day release of 24 July 2025. Clothing is already the largest UK goods import from India.
Does India have a double taxation agreement with the UK?
Yes. The 1993 India UK Double Taxation Convention entered into force on 25 October 1993, with a protocol in force from 27 December 2013, by the HMRC tax treaties page on gov.uk. It matters for service exporters and for Indian firms receiving royalty, dividend or technical fee income from the UK.
How Rasp International supports UK exporters
Rasp International is an ISO 9001:2015 certified EXIM and DGFT advisory firm that has served 500+ exporters since 2019. For the UK we check the product rule under the India UK CETA, prepare the Trade Connect certificate or the origin declaration in your firm’s name, match the invoice number across the certificate and the shipping bill and line up the health certificate or conformity file the UK category asks for. Customs clearance runs through licensed customs brokers we coordinate with. We make no promise about the buyer’s customs outcome, because the claim is decided at the UK border.
Sources
- Tier 1. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, PIB release 2274280, 17 June 2026, entry into force of the India UK CETA on 15 July 2026 and zero duty access on about 99 percent of India’s exports: pib.gov.in.
- Tier 1. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, PIB release 2285085, 15 July 2026, the agreement formally entered into force: pib.gov.in.
- Tier 1. PIB release 2147805, 24 July 2025, signing of the agreement: pib.gov.in; PIB explainer of 27 July 2025 on the earlier 12 percent textile duty: pib.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated 13 July 2026, electronic filing and issuance of preferential Certificates of Origin under the India UK CETA from 15 July 2026: DGFT trade notices page; Handbook of Procedures, Chapter 2: content.dgft.gov.in; Trade Connect ePlatform: trade.gov.in.
- Tier 1. ICEGATE advisory of 13 July 2026 on the India UK CETA rules of origin: icegate.gov.in. Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the India UK CETA) Rules, 2026, in force 15 July 2026: check the notification on cbic.gov.in.
- Tier 1. UK India CETA Chapter 3, Rules of Origin, Articles 3.15 and 3.18: gov.uk; UK government notice of 17 July 2026: gov.uk; UK Integrated Online Tariff: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk.
- Tier 1. UK Department for Business and Trade, India trade and investment factsheet, 31 July 2026: gov.uk.
- Tier 1. gov.uk guidance: Get an EORI number; Using the UKCA marking; BTOM risk categories; DCTS preference tiers; DCTS country graduation: India; Tariffs on goods imported into the UK; HMRC India tax treaties.
This is general guidance. Rules change. Check the current order or notification, or speak to us, before you act.
Related: India UK CETA certificate of origin | Certificate of Origin service | All country export guides | RCMC registration