India-UK trade ministers discuss roadmap to implement historic free trade agreement

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India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal and UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle held a bilateral meeting in Mumbai on October 8 to chart an implementation roadmap for the India–UK trade and investment partnership.

"The meeting marked a significant step towards operationalising the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), with both Ministers agreeing to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to oversee its implementation and delivery. Both sides underlined their commitment to ensuring swift, coordinated, and results-oriented implementation of the CETA, aimed at realising its full potential for businesses and consumers in both countries," read a statement issued by India's commerce ministry.

The meeting of the two trade ministers happened as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on his first visit to India since taking office. Speaking to business delegates in Mumbai, Starmer said he wants the UK’s free trade agreement with India implemented "as soon as humanly possible."

The UK premier is in India this week, leading a delegation of more than 100 British business, academic, and cultural leaders to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.

Starmer and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had finalized a free-trade agreement in July after three years of intense negotiations. However, given Britain's lengthy ratification process, the agreement may take nearly a year to get operational.

In the bilateral meeting, the Ministers — Goyal and Kyle — also discussed ways to maximise the benefits of the trade pact through regulatory cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers, and promoting supply chain integration. "The Ministers reaffirmed their shared ambition to double bilateral trade by 2030, leveraging the complementarities between the two economies in areas such as advanced manufacturing, digital trade, clean energy, and services," read the ministry's statement.

Ahead of the bilateral meeting, a series of sectoral roundtables were held across priority sectors including including advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, food and drink, science, technology and innovation, construction, infrastructure and clean energy, and financial, professional and business services (including IT/ITeS, education, and engineering).

The India–UK CEO Forum was also held on October 8 in Mumbai bringing together business leaders from both countries to discuss new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation. "Co-chaired by prominent industry representatives from India and the United Kingdom, the Forum served as a key platform to deepen bilateral economic cooperation and strengthen partnerships across sectors. The discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the UK to advancing a modern, mutually beneficial, and sustainable economic partnership, strengthened by the India-UK CETA," it said.

Both Ministers also exchanged views on the global trade and economic outlook, acknowledging the importance of building resilient and diversified supply chains amid ongoing global uncertainties, the ministry said.