Status at a glance
Since 2022 India has concluded trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA, the UK, Oman and New Zealand; deals with the EU and the US are announced but not in force. Tariff cuts and rules of origin vary by product.
| Partner | Agreement | Status as of 1 Oct 2026 | Key dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Double Contributions Convention | In force | Signed 24 Jul 2025; in force 15 Jul 2026 |
| Oman | Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) | In force | Signed 18 Dec 2025; in force 1 Jun 2026 |
| EFTA | Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) | In force | Signed March 2024; in force 1 Oct 2025 |
| New Zealand | Free trade agreement | Signed; in force from 20 Oct 2026 | Concluded 22 Dec 2025; signed 27 Apr 2026 |
| EU | Free trade agreement | Announced, not signed | Announced 27 Jan 2026 at the 16th India–EU Summit |
| US | Interim trade agreement | Framework announced | Joint statement 7 Feb 2026 |
| UAE | CEPA | Signed 2022; in operation | In-force date not given in the sources |
| Australia | ECTA; wider CECA under negotiation | ECTA (2022) in operation | In-force date not given in the sources |
Agreements in force
UK: CETA and social security
The CETA gives zero duty on about 99% of India’s exports to the UK. For investors, two points stand out:
- Social security. The Double Contributions Convention exempts Indian workers and their employers from paying contributions in both countries on temporary UK assignments for up to five years (previously three). This matters for staff moving between a UK parent and an Indian subsidiary; see social security.
- Vehicles. From 15 July 2026, UK-built petrol and diesel cars within CETA quotas pay 30–50% duty, falling to 10% by year five, against up to 110% outside the quota. EVs get no cut for five years. From year six, Indian-built electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles priced GBP 20,000–80,000 enter the UK duty-free within quota, with the quota rising to 88,000 vehicles by year 15. Quota imports need a DGFT tariff-rate quota certificate and a UK certificate of origin.
Oman: CEPA
Signed on 18 December 2025 and in force from 1 June 2026. Oman gives immediate duty-free access for all 945 textile and apparel tariff lines and includes temporary-entry commitments, including for intra-corporate transferees.
EFTA: TEPA
Signed in March 2024 and in force from 1 October 2025. Under Article 7.1, EFTA states aim to raise FDI into India by USD 50 bn within ten years and a further USD 50 bn in the following five, and to help create 1 million direct jobs. Invest India runs an EFTA Desk for investors from these countries.
UAE and Australia
The UAE CEPA (signed 2022, in operation) has reduced tariffs on over 90% of India’s exports to the UAE, notably gems and jewellery, textiles, leather and engineering goods (PIB, December 2025). Australia’s ECTA, concluded in 2022 and in operation, eliminated or reduced tariffs on most traded goods; talks on a wider agreement covering services, mobility and digital trade were advancing in December 2025.
Signed or announced, not yet in force
New Zealand
Concluded on 22 December 2025 and signed on 27 April 2026 (PIB), with entry into force on 20 October 2026 announced on 21 September 2026. It provides duty-free access for 100% of India’s exports and includes provisions to facilitate USD 20 bn of investment.
EU
Announced on 27 January 2026 at the 16th India–EU Summit; not yet signed. Government sources said in August 2026 that legal scrubbing was complete and signing was on track for the end of 2026. It takes effect only after signature and ratification. As announced, duty on EU cars would fall from 110% to 10% for 250,000 vehicles a year, with EV cuts starting only after five years.
US
Under the framework announced on 7 February 2026, the US was to apply an 18% reciprocal tariff to Indian-origin goods, and India was to address non-tariff barriers, including for US medical devices. Confirm the current tariff and status before relying on these terms.
Separately, from 29 September 2026 the US 100% tariff on specified patented medicines covers more companies. Generics and their ingredients are outside it, and qualifying speciality medicines from India, as one of 20 eligible jurisdictions, may get zero duty.
Not covered here
The sources do not discuss India’s agreements with Japan, Korea, ASEAN, Singapore or Mauritius. Confirm their terms with the relevant authority.
Using an agreement
- Rules of origin. Preferential duty depends on meeting the agreement’s origin rules and holding the right certificate.
- Services and people. Temporary-entry and social security provisions affect secondment planning as much as tariffs affect goods.
- Investment provisions. The EFTA and New Zealand investment figures are stated objectives and facilitation provisions, not commitments to any single investor.
What to check next
- Confirm the in-force date and tariff schedule for your HS codes before pricing imports or exports.
- For UK secondments, check whether the five-year exemption applies and what documents the convention requires.
- For vehicle imports from the UK, check quota availability and the DGFT certificate process.
- Track signature and ratification of the EU agreement; terms announced are not yet law.
- See GST and customs for duties that apply outside an agreement.