If you buy from or sell to India, mark 15 July 2026 in your diary. That is the day the UK to India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, enters into force. Both governments confirmed the date in June 2026, and it is being widely described as the UK's most significant bilateral trade agreement since leaving the EU.
The headline is genuinely good news: big tariff cuts flowing both ways. But here is the bit a lot of people are going to miss in the excitement. Lower duty is on the table, but only if your paperwork lines up. It does not happen automatically, and there is one step UK exporters absolutely must not skip. Let's walk through what actually changes and what you should be doing right now.
What actually changes on 15 July
In plain terms, a large chunk of the tariffs that currently sit between UK and Indian goods are being cut or removed. India has agreed to reduce or eliminate duties across a big share of tariff lines, and the Indian government has said the deal covers close to its entire trade basket, with tariff elimination on around 99 per cent of tariff lines over time.
Reporting around the deal points to meaningful cuts across categories that matter to a lot of Bradford businesses. Indian government figures cited in the press describe reductions on things like processed foods, engineering goods and auto components, leather and footwear, textiles and clothing, and chemicals and pharmaceuticals, with many of those rates falling towards zero over the agreement's phase-in. On the UK side, the government has said the deal delivers its largest package of tariff reductions to date, with estimated duty savings for UK exporters of around £400 million at entry into force according to GOV.UK.
The bigger picture is ambition. Both prime ministers have talked about roughly doubling bilateral trade by 2030, and the UK government estimates the agreement could add billions to UK GDP by 2040. For an importer or exporter, though, the number that matters is the one on your own commercial invoice, and that brings us to the catch.
The catch almost everyone underestimates: rules of origin
Here is the part that trips people up. The preferential (lower) rates do not apply to any goods you happen to ship between the UK and India. They only apply to goods that meet the CETA rules of origin. In other words, the product has to genuinely originate in the UK or India.
There are broadly three ways a product can qualify. It can be wholly obtained or produced in the country, for example goods grown, mined or fully made there from local materials. It can be made entirely from materials that already count as originating. Or it can be sufficiently processed, meaning imported materials are transformed enough in the UK or India to meet the specific rule for that product.
That last route is where the detail lives. If you import components from elsewhere, assemble them and then export the finished item, you cannot just assume it now counts as British. Each product has its own rule, and you need to check whether yours is met before you claim preference. Get this wrong and you are not just missing out on the saving, you could be making an incorrect declaration. So the honest advice is: check your specific goods against the rules of origin early, and keep the evidence that backs up your claim.
Exporters, do not skip this: register with HMRC first
This is the single step we most want UK exporters to hear. If you want your Indian customer to get the preferential rate, you as the UK exporter or producer must be registered with HMRC before you make your first origin declaration under CETA. HMRC opened this registration in January 2026, it is free, and it is a one time job.
Why it matters: if you are not registered, your origin declarations can be rejected, which means your Indian customer cannot claim the preference and ends up paying the full standard (MFN) duty instead. For many products that is a much higher bill. You can still trade with India without registering, but you lose the whole benefit of the deal, and your customer feels it directly.
The process, in brief, is that you register with HMRC and get a reference number linked to your business, your details are validated and shared for verification on the Indian side, and then you complete origin declarations accurately using the prescribed wording and submit them to your customer and Indian customs from your registered email. The exact steps are set out on GOV.UK under registering to complete origin declarations for the UK to India agreement. The takeaway: sort the registration now, well before your first preferential shipment, so you are not scrambling on 15 July.
What Bradford importers and exporters should do this week
You do not need to be a customs expert to get ready, but you do need to start. Here is a short, practical checklist.
First, list the products you import from or export to India, along with their commodity codes, so you know exactly what you are dealing with. Second, check each one against the CETA rules of origin to see whether it qualifies for preference, and be realistic about the sufficiently processed route if your goods use imported materials. Third, if you export, get your HMRC registration done now rather than later. Fourth, sort your origin documentation and evidence so you can support any claim if it is ever questioned. Fifth, talk to the other side of the transaction, because a UK exporter's registration and correct declaration is what unlocks the saving for the Indian importer, and vice versa.
Above all, do not assume the lower duty applies automatically. It is claimed, evidenced and conditional on origin. If any of that feels like a lot on top of the day job, that is exactly what we are here for. Vantage Cargo handles air, sea and road freight, customs clearance and worldwide logistics, and we can help you work out whether your goods qualify, get your paperwork in order and keep your India shipments moving smoothly once the deal goes live.
Frequently asked questions
When does the UK to India trade deal start?
The UK to India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) enters into force on 15 July 2026. Both governments confirmed the date in June 2026, and the preferential tariff rates become available from that day.
Do the lower tariffs apply to all goods automatically?
No. The preferential rates only apply to goods that meet the CETA rules of origin, so the product must genuinely originate in the UK or India, whether wholly produced, made from originating materials, or sufficiently processed. You also have to claim the preference and back it with the right documentation. It is not applied automatically.
What do UK exporters need to do to offer the preferential rate?
UK exporters or producers must register with HMRC before making their first origin declaration under CETA. Registration opened in January 2026, it is free and done once. Without it, your origin declarations can be rejected and your Indian customer will pay the full standard duty instead.
Can Vantage Cargo help us get ready?
Yes. We can help you check whether your goods qualify under the rules of origin, get your HMRC registration and origin paperwork sorted early, and handle the air, sea, road and customs side of your India shipments so nothing gets held up once the deal goes live.