New Delhi, June 03 The UK-India Business Council (UKIBC) on Wednesday welcomed UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle’s visit to India and urged accelerated implementation of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), following his discussions with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
In a statement, UKIBC said the Kyle–Goyal meeting focused on bringing the FTA into force at the earliest. The industry body noted that bilateral trade between India and the UK is already worth £48 billion annually and argued that the agreement’s extensive tariff liberalisation would make exports cheaper, quicker and easier in both markets.
According to the council, the pact envisages liberalising 99 per cent of UK tariffs and 90 per cent of Indian tariffs once it takes effect. UKIBC described the India–UK FTA, signed in July 2025, as the UK’s most economically significant bilateral trade agreement since its exit from the European Union. The agreement spans 30 chapters, including trade, innovation, labour, environment and gender cooperation, making it one of India’s most comprehensive trade deals to date.
Calling for a swift transition from conclusion to implementation, UKIBC’s Group CEO Dr. Kishore Jayaraman said the agreement, negotiated over several years, would unlock opportunities for businesses and consumers in both countries. The council added that the growing momentum in UK–India trade and investment reflects long-term confidence in the corridor and a shared ambition to build future-facing economic ties.
The latest engagement follows a virtual interaction last month between Minister Goyal and his UK counterpart to explore ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties while fully leveraging opportunities under the proposed FTA framework.
India has stepped up the pace of free trade negotiations as part of a broader strategy to strengthen global partnerships and integrate more deeply into supply chains. A recent report cited by the industry body indicates that India’s trade with strategic FTA partners grew 92 per cent between FY21 and FY25, outpacing the 41.5 per cent increase in India’s merchandise trade with the rest of the world over the same period.
According to the statement, India currently has nine FTAs covering 38 countries, including recent agreements with partners such as the UAE, Australia and EFTA nations, alongside ongoing efforts with other economies.
Separately, Minister Goyal has underscored the need for a balanced and responsive World Trade Organization that effectively addresses the concerns and aspirations of developing countries and Least Developed Countries.
With talks now centered on the final steps to operationalise the India–UK FTA, businesses on both sides are watching for enabling notifications, tariff schedules, rules of origin and customs facilitation measures that will translate the agreement’s provisions into on-the-ground market access and cost savings.
