How do I claim UK CETA zero duty?

Through a self-certified origin declaration under CBIC Circular 33/2026, provided the goods meet the product-specific rules of origin. Incorrect declarations can be denied with retrospective duty.

India FTA & Tariff Explorer 2026 | MFN vs Preferential by Country

Q: What is the difference between an FTA, a CEPA and a CETA?

Functionally cousins: an FTA focuses on tariff elimination on goods, while a CEPA or CETA extends into services, investment, mobility and regulatory cooperation. India's UAE and Oman pacts are CEPAs; the UK pact is a CETA.

Q: Can third-country goods routed through India claim Indian FTA benefits?

No. FTA preferences require genuine Indian origin with substantial transformation meeting value-addition thresholds; anything else is origin fraud.

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How to read it

MFN, FTA and why the difference is margin

MFN (Most Favoured Nation) is the WTO baseline: the standard tariff India applies equally to all members without a trade agreement — despite the name, it is the default, not a favour. FTA/CEPA/CETA preferential rates undercut MFN, sometimes to zero, but only for goods that genuinely originate in the partner country and travel with a valid preferential Certificate of Origin.

Three practical rules we trade by:

Preferential COO on every eligible shipment — the duty saved is direct margin; leaving it unclaimed is a donation.
Calendar-driven selling — contracts signed before a duty window opens capture the first-quarter advantage competitors react to late.
Rules-of-origin honesty — merchanted third-country goods never get Indian FTA benefits. Blurring that line is a prosecution, not a strategy.

India's network now spans nine FTAs across 38 countries, with the UK and Oman agreements entering force in 2026 and the EU deal concluded and ratifying. The map keeps moving — which is why this page exists.

Common questions

FTA FAQs

What is the difference between an FTA, a CEPA and a CETA?

Functionally cousins. An FTA focuses on tariff elimination on goods; a CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) and CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) extend into services, investment, mobility and regulatory cooperation. India's UAE and Oman pacts are CEPAs; the UK pact is a CETA. For a trader, the operative question is the same: what is my HS line's preferential rate and rule of origin?

Does the India–EU FTA already cut duties?

Not yet. Negotiations concluded on 27 January 2026, but the agreement must clear EU ratification (and Indian approval) before entry into force — realistically 2027. Until then, MFN duties apply. The smart move now is regulatory preparation and contracts positioned to ship in the first duty quarter.

How do I claim the UK CETA zero duty?

Through an origin declaration — the CETA uses self-certification under CBIC Circular 33/2026 rather than agency-issued certificates, provided your goods meet the product-specific rules of origin. Get the declaration wording or the value-addition math wrong and the preference can be denied with retrospective duty. We paper this correctly as standard.

What tariff do Indian goods face in the United States right now?

The only honest answer in 2026: verify per HS line on the day you quote. The February 2026 interim framework removed the 25% punitive layer and set an 18% reciprocal rate on select goods with zero duty on lines like spices, tea and coffee; subsequent US court rulings then reshaped the tariff base while BTA negotiations continue. We run the current-rate check before every US quotation — ask us.

Can third-country goods routed through India claim Indian FTA benefits?

No — and anyone who suggests otherwise is proposing origin fraud. FTA preferences require genuine Indian origin with substantial transformation meeting the agreement's value-addition thresholds. Our merchanting desk keeps these worlds strictly separate.

India FTA & Tariff Explorer

MFN, FTA and why the difference is margin

FTA FAQs

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