CETA boosts India’s farm, food exports

India’s agriculture sector is poised to gain significantly after it signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK on Thursday.

- Vijay C. Roy & Gireesh Chandra Prasad

The trade deal secures enhanced access to the British market for a range of Indian goods such as processed foods, vegetables, spices, marine and animal products, as import tariffs on them are either reduced or eliminated. Importantly, New Delhi managed to limit its concessions in its farm sector to a narrow segment and safeguard its domestic interests.

Without opening up its agriculture sector in a big way, New Delhi made selective concessions on items like lamb meat, seafood and some live breeding animals, but core sensitive sectors like dairy, bovine meat, poultry, and processed animal products are excluded. The move suggests India managed to protect key parts of its agri market in the trade deal.