BY THE VRKAN EDITORIAL TEAM · JULY 2026
On 15 July 2026 the UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into force, alongside the Double Contributions Convention. For firms trading or hiring across the corridor, this is not a headline to file away — it changes the economics of doing business from day one.
What changed overnight
From the first day, around 99% of Indian exports enter the UK duty-free — a step-change for textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, marine products and chemicals. In the other direction, India is cutting tariffs on roughly 90% of tariff lines, rising toward around 99% of trade value over a decade. Scotch whisky drops from 150% to 75% on entry and to 40% over ten years; automobiles, medical devices, aerospace parts and cosmetics all benefit from phased reductions.
The catch: rules of origin
The duty saving only applies to goods that qualify as originating under CETA’s product-specific rules. This is where anticipated savings are most often lost — the goods ship, but origin cannot be substantiated on audit. Before you reprice, make sure you can prove origin, self-certify on the correct documentation, and keep the supporting records.
People move more cheaply, too
The Double Contributions Convention lets a posted worker remain in their home social-security system for up to 60 months, exempt from host-country contributions for that period. It cuts the cost of moving skilled staff in both directions — provided employers obtain the certificate of coverage before the assignment begins.
What to do this quarter
Reclassify your HS codes against the CETA schedule, test each product line against the rules of origin, rebuild your landed-cost models, align contracts and Incoterms, and brief HR on the DCC. Firms that move deliberately now will bank the advantage before their competitors have finished reading the summary.
We turn CETA from a headline into an execution plan — and coordinate the customs, origin and mobility specialists who handle the filings.
Indicative information for planning only — not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Regulated work is handled by appropriately qualified professionals Vrkan coordinates on your behalf.