India and the United Kingdom have taken stock of their landmark trade agreement for the first time since it came into force. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met in New Delhi on Monday, October 12, for the 16th meeting of the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee, the India-UK JETCO. It was the first JETCO since the two countries began negotiating the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in January 2022.
In a joint statement released by the commerce ministry, both sides said the CETA marks "the beginning, not the end" of their economic ambitions.
Early Wins Under the Trade Deal
The statement listed several quick results since the agreement took effect:
- On the very first day, Indian exporters sent more than 50 consignments to the UK, including smartphones, electrical and mechanical machinery such as turbojets, gold jewellery, ready-made garments, woollen yarn, tea and coffee.
- Assam's aromatic Joha rice was shipped to the UK for the first time.
- The first Certificates of Origin under CETA were issued through India's eCoO 2.0 platform on a self-certification basis, letting exporters claim lower tariffs from day one.
- The first tariff-free Scottish salmon reached India within a fortnight, with several thousand kilos exported since.
- Scotch whisky has entered India at reduced tariffs, and the first cars imported under the deal's tariff-rate quota have cleared Indian customs.
Key Decisions at the Meeting
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meeting | 16th India-UK JETCO |
| Date and venue | October 12, 2026, New Delhi |
| Co-chairs | Piyush Goyal (India), Jonathan Reynolds (UK) |
| Data sharing | Annual exchange of CETA usage data, starting one year after entry into force |
| Implementation | CETA committees, working groups and contact points to be set up |
| New focus areas | Services, innovation, government procurement, science and technology, gender |
| Next JETCO | 17th meeting in the UK in 2027 |
Tracking How Businesses Use the Deal
The most practical outcome is a plan to swap data every year, starting one year after CETA's entry into force. This will show how often businesses actually claim the lower tariffs, along with feedback on what is working and where firms need help. Both governments said the aim is to help more companies, especially small and medium enterprises, make use of the agreement.
The two ministers also agreed to set up all the committees and working groups the agreement requires and to name government contact points for every chapter, so that problems can be fixed quickly.
The Bigger Picture: Northern England Comes to Delhi
This JETCO had an unusual regional flavour. It coincided with a visit by seven mayors and a combined authority leader from the North of England, along with parallel visits by the UK's Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The ministers acknowledged the role that states, regions and cities play in building trade and investment links. The India-UK Science and Innovation Council and an Innovation Roundtable also met on the same day.
A Quick Look at JETCO
The Joint Economic and Trade Committee is the main ministerial forum for trade between the two countries, co-chaired by India's commerce minister and the UK's trade secretary. It usually meets once a year, alternating between the two countries, to review trade and investment ties and clear obstacles faced by businesses. With the CETA now in force, its role shifts from negotiating to making sure the deal actually delivers on the ground.
What It Means for India
For Indian exporters, the message is clear: the door to the UK market is open, and the government wants more firms to walk through it. Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, jewellery and processed food, and regional products like Joha rice, stand to gain from lower duties. For Indian consumers, the deal is already showing up in the form of more affordable Scotch whisky, salmon and some imported cars.
The focus on services and innovation also matters for India's IT, fintech and start-up sectors, which see the UK as a key market.
What Happens Next
Officials will now work on setting up the CETA's institutional machinery and resolving any early implementation issues. Both sides agreed that high-level visits should continue, and the 17th JETCO will be held in the United Kingdom in 2027, by which time the first full year of trade data under the agreement should be available.
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