India and the United Kingdom have agreed to exchange data annually to track how businesses use the tariff benefits under their Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The decision was announced following the 16th meeting of the India–UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in New Delhi on October 12.
The data exchange will begin one year after CETA entered into force on July 15, 2026. It will track how often businesses claim preferential tariffs and collect feedback on implementation, helping both governments identify obstacles and improve access for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
Early trade activity has already demonstrated the agreement’s practical use. More than 50 Indian consignments were sent to the UK on the day the pact took effect. They included smartphones and other electronics, machinery, gold jewellery, ready-made garments, woollen yarn, tea and coffee.
Scottish salmon also reached India tariff-free within a fortnight of CETA taking effect. Several thousand kilograms have since been exported, while Scotch whisky has entered the Indian market under reduced tariffs. The first cars exported under the agreement’s tariff-rate quota have also cleared customs in India.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, co-chaired the meeting. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation across services, innovation, science and technology, while continuing to address implementation challenges.
The next JETCO meeting is scheduled to take place in the UK in 2027.
