India-UK Trade Deal Opens Tariff-Free Access for Steel, Marine Exports

The India-UK trade agreement took effect July 15, removing tariffs on most Indian goods entering the United Kingdom. Indian steel and marine products now get zero-duty access, while British chocolate and auto parts will face lower import duties in India. The deal also lets Indian companies bid on non-sensitive government procurement contracts in the UK. Sectors like steel and marine products, which previously faced duties of 10–15% in the UK, are the clearest near-term beneficiaries. Lower tariffs on British chocolate and auto parts could pressure domestic Indian producers in those categories. The agreement runs only as a temporary framework; a full free-trade deal is still under negotiation. The next concrete marker is the first quarter's trade data, due in October, which will show whether export volumes actually rose.