LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Britain and India Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement
Historic pact to slash tariffs and boost trade by £25.5 billion by 2040
24 July 2025 · 23:48 UTC

Under the terms, tariffs on British goods entering India will drop from an average of 15 percent to 3 percent, with duties on Scotch whisky, gin, cars and cosmetics easing dramatically over time.
In exchange, nearly 99 percent of Indian exports to the UK will gain duty‑free access.
The deal is expected to boost bilateral trade by around £25.5 billion annually by 2040, while adding roughly £4.8 billion to UK GDP and increasing wage income by £2.2 billion per year.
It also includes enhanced access for UK services firms, a social security agreement for temporary Indian workers, and cooperation in defence, climate and crime sectors.