Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 18
12th Report - UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Published 21 Jan 2026
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee UK trade with the US, India and EU All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Committee notes that UK businesses face significant non-tariff barriers in the Indian market, including regulatory complexity, inconsistent implementation, limited transparency and state-level frictions, as well as specific barriers such as export health certification requirements and India’s expanding use of Quality Control Orders. The Committee would like to see these barriers reduced and this will be most effectively done by using the new mechanisms established. This will require adequate staffing, resourcing and prioritisation by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business and Trade. (Conclusion, Paragraph 103)
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, 12th Report - UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) (HC 996), 21 January 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 17 April 2026 (deadline 21 March 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds to each recommendation mainly by describing existing structures and its approach to implementation, with a few stated commitments to update Parliament, publish data and monitor the agreement.
- On utilisation data, it will "endeavour to publish provisional data" within the first year after entry into force, "subject to information provision from Indian customs", and will update Parliament regularly.
- On mutual recognition of professional qualifications, it says this is "ultimately the decision of the regulators", but it "will seek to actively facilitate" such arrangements where they are of mutual interest.
- On the Responsible Business Conduct review, it will "update Parliament when the review is complete"; on labour market impacts, it says DBT "intends to monitor and evaluate the agreement".
- On debates, it "reaffirms" its commitment to provide a debate on any new trade deal during the statutory scrutiny period "where Parliamentary time allows".