Home / Sources / Select Committees / International Agreements Comm… / UK-India Free Trade Agreement
Select committee: International Agreements Committee

UK-India Free Trade Agreement

Open Opened 9 Sep 2025

International Agreements Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Following the announcement of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, the International Agreements Committee is opening an inquiry investigating the impacts and implications of the FTA for the UK. Our inquiry will investigate the terms of the FTA, any potential benefits and disadvantages to the UK, and examine how key provisions will work for important sectors. It will also take into account the bilateral relationship and the broader geopolitical context.

Where it stands

The inquiry is open, opened 9 September 2025.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 14th Report - Scrutiny of international agreements: UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on 3 February 2026.

The government's response

Published 2 April 2026. The deadline was 3 April 2026.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's recognition of CETA as a "significant achievement" and responds point by point in Annex A, mostly describing existing measures and continuing work rather than new commitments.

  • On future trade agreements, it says it takes account of the cumulative impact on agriculture, but states only that it "will always carefully consider our approach to future FTAs on their own terms", without confirming that CETA sets no precedent.
  • On lamb, it says it continues to work with India to resolve Export Health Certificate requirements, "a priority issue which we are actively pursuing". No date is given.
  • On customs systems between HMRC and Indian authorities, it says work is underway to make them operational "before the CETA entry into force", which it considers a "top priority".
  • On publishing tariff preference utilisation data, it is "willing to exchange" the data with India and publish it "at the earliest appropriate opportunity", relying on timely Indian data and an aligned analytical framework.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 5 oral evidence sessionsLatest 9 December 2025
  • 15 witnesses
All evidence

Recent activity

Meetings and visits

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

Date Session and witnesses Source
9 Dec 2025
Oral evidence session
Chris Bryant MP · Department for Business and Trade, Kate Thornley · Department for Business and Trade 		View ↗
11 Nov 2025
Oral evidence session
Barbara Mills KC · The Bar Council, John Cooke · Liberalisation of Trade in Services, Mickaël Laurans · Law Society, Professor Ingo Borchert · University of Sussex Business School 		View ↗
28 Oct 2025
Oral evidence session
Dr Chietigj Bajpaee · Chatham House, Dr Ganeshan Wignaraja · Overseas Development Institute, Professor Kate Sullivan De Estrada · Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, Oxford University 		View ↗
21 Oct 2025
Oral evidence session
Alessandro Marongiu · Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT), Paul Alger · UK Fabrics and Textiles, Professor Sangeeta Khorana · Aston University, William Bain · British Chambers of Commerce 		View ↗
14 Oct 2025
Oral evidence session
Dr. Mattia di Ubaldo · Department of Economics at University of Sussex, Sophie Hale · Resolution Foundation 		View ↗

Who gave evidence

15 witnesses

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alessandro Marongiu · Head of Trade Policy Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) 1
Barbara Mills KC · Chair The Bar Council 1
Chris Bryant MP · Minister for Trade Department for Business and Trade 1
Dr Chietigj Bajpaee · Senior Research Fellow Chatham House 1
Dr Ganeshan Wignaraja · Visiting Senior Fellow Overseas Development Institute 1
Dr. Mattia di Ubaldo · Principal Research Fellow Department of Economics at University of Sussex 1
John Cooke · Co-Chair Liberalisation of Trade in Services 1
Kate Thornley · Chief Negotiator, UK-India Free Trade Agreement Department for Business and Trade 1
Mickaël Laurans · Head of International Law Society 1
Paul Alger · Director of International Business UK Fabrics and Textiles 1
Professor Ingo Borchert · Professor of Economics University of Sussex Business School 1
Professor Kate Sullivan De Estrada · Associate Professor in the International Relations of South Asia Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, Oxford University 1
Professor Sangeeta Khorana · Professor of International Trade Aston University 1
Sophie Hale · Principal Economist Resolution Foundation 1
William Bain · Head of Trade British Chambers of Commerce 1

Meetings & visits

5 items

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

DateTypeDetailSource
26 Jan 2026 Formal meeting (private meeting) Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster
20 Jan 2026 Formal meeting (private meeting) Not recorded · Room 1, Palace of Westminster
13 Jan 2026 Formal meeting (private meeting) Not recorded · To be confirmed
2 Dec 2025 Formal meeting (private meeting) Not recorded · Virtual meeting
18 Nov 2025 Formal meeting (private meeting) Not recorded · Room 4, Palace of Westminster