India-UK JETCO Meeting on CETA Implementation Progress
The 16th meeting of the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was held in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, chaired by Shri Piyush Ved Prakash Goyal, India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, and the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, UK's Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. This marked the first JETCO since negotiations began in January 2022 for the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which both ministers celebrated as a landmark agreement that is already delivering benefits for businesses in both countries.
The meeting gained additional significance as it coincided with the visit of seven mayors and a combined authority leader from the North of England, along with parallel visits by the UK's Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, creating a broader program of government, business, university, and regional leader engagement.
Immediate CETA Implementation Results
On the day CETA entered into force, Indian exporters sent more than 50 consignments to the UK, including electronics such as smartphones, electrical and mechanical machinery including turbojets, gold jewellery, ready-made garments, woollen yarn, tea and coffee. A significant milestone was the shipment of Joha rice from Assam to the UK, representing the first export of this distinctive regional variety to the UK. The first Certificates of Origin under CETA were issued through India's eCoO 2.0 platform on a self-certification basis, facilitating exporters' access to preferential treatment from the outset.
From the UK side, the first tariff-free Scottish salmon reached India within a fortnight of implementation, with several thousand kilos exported since. Scotch whisky has entered the Indian market under reduced tariffs, and the first cars exported under the tariff-rate quota have cleared customs and been imported into India.
Future Cooperation and Monitoring Framework
Both parties agreed to exchange data annually starting one year after CETA's entry into force to monitor how businesses are using the agreement, including data on how often businesses claim CETA's lower tariffs and business feedback on implementation. This will help identify priorities and support more companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses, in taking advantage of the agreement.
They also established a plan for CETA's continued smooth operation, including establishing committees and working groups and confirming government-to-government contact points for every part of the agreement. The ministers welcomed close cooperation that has enabled early resolution of issues and directed officials to address challenges quickly.
Expanded Partnership Areas
The meeting agreed to build on CETA and deepen cooperation across services, innovation, government procurement, science and technology, and gender equality, with greater business-to-business engagement and enhanced regional partnerships. They welcomed the simultaneous meeting of the India-UK Science and Innovation Council and the Innovation Roundtable, which connect businesses, investors and researchers for faster commercialization of new technologies.
The 17th JETCO meeting is scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom in 2027, maintaining the momentum generated by this meeting through continued high-level delegation visits.