Insights from both sides of the bridge.
Practical analysis on UK–India expansion — market entry, the CETA rollout, sector signals and cross-border risk — written for board-level readers, not analysts. Plus a once-a-month briefing you can subscribe to below.
Our insight is drawn from doing the work — coordinating entries, setups and partnerships across the corridor. Everything here is commercial context to help you decide and sequence; the regulated advice comes from qualified professionals you appoint or we coordinate.
The UK–India trade agreement, at a glance
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is in force from 15 July 2026 — the UK’s largest tariff-reduction package to date. The headlines that matter for firms moving in either direction:
| In force | 15 July 2026 (signed 24 July 2025) |
| Scope | 30 chapters — goods, services, investment, IP, digital, government procurement, mobility |
| India tariff cuts | ~90% of UK tariff lines reduced or removed (much phased) |
| UK market access for India | ~99% of Indian exports duty-free from day one |
| UK exporter duty savings | ~£400m at entry → ~£900m after 10 years |
| Projected by 2040 | +£4.8bn UK GDP · +£25.5bn bilateral trade |
| Mobility | Double Contributions Convention — up to 60 months’ social-security exemption |
Figures are indicative, drawn from public UK Government sources; tariff lines and processes continue to evolve. Lower tariffs are not automatic — goods must meet rules of origin and firms must file the correct declarations.
Sector highlights — UK exporters to India
| Sector | What changes | Timing / note |
|---|---|---|
| Spirits & whisky | Tariffs cut and the minimum import price removed; whisky and gin gain sharply | Phased; spirits exports projected +180% |
| Automotive | High-end cars: duty from ~110% toward ~10% | Over ~5 years; exports projected +311% |
| Chemicals & pharmaceuticals | Most products duty-free | Largely immediate |
| Food & drink | Fish and lamb 33% → 0%; chocolate 33% → 0% | Fish/lamb day one; chocolate over ~7 years |
| Medical devices | Improved access and lower duties | Phased |
Sector highlights — Indian companies entering the UK
With ~99% of Indian exports entering the UK duty-free from day one, the biggest gains fall where UK tariffs previously bit hardest:
| Sector | What changes | Timing / note |
|---|---|---|
| Textiles & apparel | Duty-free access to the UK, removing a long-standing cost disadvantage | Day one |
| Leather & footwear | Duty-free access | Day one |
| Gems & jewellery | Duty-free / reduced tariffs | Immediate |
| Food & agriculture | Lower or zero UK duties on a wide range of products | Immediate / phased |
| Engineering goods | Improved, lower-cost access to the UK market | Immediate / phased |
White papers
In-depth guides to the UK–India corridor — free to download.
WHITE PAPER
The UK–India CETA: A Practical Playbook
What CETA changes for firms trading both ways — tariffs, rules of origin, the Double Contribution Convention and mobility — and the steps to capture the benefit.
WHITE PAPER
Entering India, Once
Choosing the right structure, sequencing the setup, and keeping compliance and commercial momentum aligned from day one.
WHITE PAPER
The Living Bridge in Numbers
Two-way UK–India investment in 2026 — flows, sector concentration and where the next wave of capital is heading under CETA.
Datasheets
The essentials on one page — tariffs, routes and how we engage.
DATASHEET
UK–India CETA — At a Glance
The essential CETA facts on one page — tariffs, services, mobility and timelines.
DATASHEET
India Market Entry — Routes & Timelines
How foreign firms enter India — routes compared, indicative timelines and a setup checklist.
DATASHEET
How Vrkan Engages — The Service Ladder
Four ways to start — from a single clarity call to a standing expansion partnership.
Blog posts
Sharp, practical reads from the Vrkan Editorial Team.
ARTICLE · VRKAN EDITORIAL TEAM
CETA is in force — what changes on both sides of the bridge
The UK–India trade agreement is live. What actually changes for firms trading and hiring across the corridor — and what to do this quarter.
ARTICLE · VRKAN EDITORIAL TEAM
You don’t need a country manager yet
Presence and momentum on the ground, without an expensive permanent hire before the numbers justify it — the coordination model.
ARTICLE · VRKAN EDITORIAL TEAM
The most expensive way to enter India is to enter it twice
Most of the cost of entering India is in entering it wrong. Why sequence beats speed — and how to enter once, correctly.
Vrkan:AI
Need intelligence, not just headlines?
Beyond our published analysis, Vrkan:AI produces customised intelligence reports on demand — corridor monitoring, the proprietary GeoPolitical Risk Index and decision-ready briefings, tailored to your company, market or decision. AI-assisted, senior-analyst reviewed, delivered on a paid, confidential basis.