India-UK CETA live July 15: Scotch duty crashes 150% to 40%, autos to 10%
Bilateral pact opens £25.5B trade corridor with 99% tariff lines duty-free. Indian bottlers gain cheaper Scotch inputs; UK premium auto and cosmetics imports cheapen. Reciprocal access unlocks UK shelves for Indian textiles, leather, jewellery, footwear with £400M first-year duty savings.
What happened
India-UK CETA enters force July 15, 2026, slashing Scotch whisky duties from 150% to 40%, auto tariffs to 10%, and cosmetics duties, lowering input costs for
Key facts
- July 15 2026
- £25.5 billion bilateral trade
- 99% tariff lines duty-free
- Scotch duty 150%->40%
- auto tariff 100%->10%
- $900 million steel exports
- £400 million first-year savings
Why this matters
Accelerate JV and distribution tie-ups across the India-UK lane—targeting Scotch blenders, premium auto distributors, and Indian textile/leather exporters—before incumbents lock in the £25.5B trade corridor.