Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Key issues, including bulk whisky tariffs, require resolution to realise full trade agreement benefits.
Conclusion
There remain important issues that will require resolution and ongoing monitoring if the full benefits of the Agreement are to be realised. The Committee heard that the key bulk whisky tariff line has not been liberalised to the same extent as the Scotch-specific tariff codes. The automotive sector will also require support to make effective use of tariff rate quotas, and consideration should be given to the introduction of core food production standards. (Conclusion, Paragraph 51)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) oversees the utilization and implementation of the Agreement through awareness campaigns, sector-specific guides, and support for firms. DBT has already engaged over 7,000 organizations, and the government will regularly update Parliament on preparation, utilization, and tariff preference uptake.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) oversees the utilisation and implementation of the Agreement. DBT’s dedicated Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team is leading a coordinated, cross-departmental programme to ensure UK businesses are fully equipped to take advantage of the UK–India FTA the moment it enters into force. This capability exercise is delivered by raising awareness of the deal, producing sector specific and thematic guides, and supporting firms to understand how to leverage new market access opportunities, tariff reductions, and simplified customs processes. DBT’s outreach activity has already engaged over 7,000 organisations on CETA right across the UK and in market. Through ongoing business engagement, regional events, partnerships with sector bodies, and close collaboration with policy teams, DBT is ensuring that companies not only understand the deal but can convert its provisions into real commercial wins. HM Government will continue to update Parliament regularly - through written statements, committees, and scrutiny processes - on preparation, utilisation, and tariff preference uptake. As with previous UK FTAs, we will also endeavour to publish provisional data on utilisation rates within the first year after entry into force - subject to information provision from Indian customs.