India-UK FTA likely to unlock extra trade worth 25.5 billion pounds: UK diplomat

THE India-UK Free Trade Agreement, which eliminates tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK and 90 per cent of UK exports to India, will unlock 25.5 billion pounds in additional trade value, according to UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia Harjinder Kang.

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Participating in a panel discussion here, he said: "This agreement is not just a trade deal; it is a blueprint for the next chapter of UK-India economic cooperation. With 43 billion pounds in existing trade and 25.5 billion pounds in incremental upside, it opens doors to real gains for manufacturers and services providers alike."

Kang, who is also the Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, revealed the next steps: legal scrubbing, Prime Ministerial signing, parliamentary ratification (expected in 9-12 months), and staggered implementation. He affirmed that services liberalisation, auto tariffs (with quotas), and "a future-ready tech-security corridor" were built into the agreement, with potential expansion into sectors like pharma, semi-conductors, and green tech.