India and the United Kingdom are moving to track how businesses use tariff concessions under their trade agreement, with annual data sharing set to help identify implementation hurdles and widen participation, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.
The decision was taken at the 16th meeting of the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in New Delhi on Monday.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds reviewed progress since the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into force on July 15, 2026.
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Under the arrangement, both countries will begin exchanging data on tariff concession utilisation one year after the agreement's implementation. The information will show how frequently businesses claim preferential duties and help authorities address difficulties faced by exporters and importers.
The two sides also agreed to establish committees, working groups and government-to-government contact points for different provisions of the pact, with officials tasked with resolving emerging issues quickly.
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Scottish Salmon, Scotch Whisky And Cars Enter The Market
Early trade flows offer a glimpse of the agreement's reach. Indian exporters dispatched more than 50 consignments to the UK on the day CETA took effect, including smartphones, machinery, gold jewellery, garments, woollen yarn, tea and coffee.
The first shipment of Assam's distinctive Joha rice also reached the British market under the agreement.
India, meanwhile, received its first tariff-free Scottish salmon shipment within a fortnight of implementation, with several thousand kilograms exported since. Scotch whisky has entered India under reduced tariffs, while the first British cars imported under the pact's tariff-rate quota have cleared customs.
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Cooperation Extends Beyond Goods
The two governments also intend to deepen engagement in services, innovation, government procurement, science and technology, and gender-related initiatives. Greater business-to-business interaction and regional partnerships are expected to help spread the benefits across both economies.
The meeting coincided with a visit by seven mayors and a combined authority leader from northern England, underlining the role of cities and regional authorities in building investment and trade links.
Both sides described the agreement as the start of a broader economic partnership. The next JETCO meeting is scheduled to be held in the UK in 2027.
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