New Delhi/London – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thrown his weight behind the landmark India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), calling it a transformative leap in the two nations’ economic ties. Sharing an article on the newly signed pact, Modi hailed it as a “blueprint for shared prosperity” and a cornerstone of the India–UK Vision 2035.
Signed on July 24, 2025, during Modi’s visit to the UK, the deal marks India’s first full-scale FTA with a European nation and the UK’s most ambitious post-Brexit trade accord. The agreement is expected to double bilateral trade to over $100 billion by 2030, removing tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and slashing duties on British goods entering India from 15% to just 3%.
Major sectors like textiles, gems & jewellery, seafood, automobiles, aerospace, and whisky stand to benefit immensely. The agreement also includes a Double Contribution Convention, freeing Indian professionals in the UK from paying dual social security contributions for up to three years.Modi, using a cricketing metaphor, said: “There may be a swing and a miss at times, but we always play with a straight bat,” reflecting the resilient spirit of the deal.
Economists say the UK could see a £6 billion investment boost and £4.8 billion annual GDP growth, while Indian MSMEs, professionals, and farmers gain expanded global market access. With enhanced CCTV monitoring and regulatory oversight, the pact sets a new global benchmark in fair, sustainable, and growth-driven international trade.
