Finance Ministry notifies Rules of Origin under India-UK CETA ahead of July 15 rollout
The Finance Ministry has notified the Rules of Origin under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), paving the way for the agreement to become operational from July 15, 2026. The rules prescribe the criteria for determining the origin of goods eligible for preferential tariff benefits under the pact. A certificate of origin is a key document required for exports to avail duty benefits under India's trade agreements with partner countries. It is essential to establish the origin of goods to ensure that products from third countries do not wrongly avail themselves of the preferential tariff benefits under trade agreements between the two countries.
In a notification, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), said entities authorised by the two countries are permitted to issue these certificates in their respective countries. It said these rules may be called the Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Rules, 2026.
The agreement grants duty-free access to 99% of India's exports to the UK, covering nearly the entire trade basket. This is expected to create significant opportunities for labour-intensive sectors as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems and jewellery, alongside fast-growing sectors like engineering goods, auto components, and organic chemicals. Bilateral trade between India and the UK rose 8.62% to $25.12 billion in FY26, with India's exports at $13.44 billion and imports at $11.68 billion. India recorded a trade surplus of $1.76 billion during the fiscal year.
