India Secures Duty Free Access For Steel Exports To UK

17 Jul 2026 CW Team

India will be able to ship over one point one million tonnes (1.1 mn t) of steel annually to the United Kingdom duty-free under the free trade agreement that came into force on Wednesday. The access is provided through a combination of country-specific and residual quotas aimed at mitigating disruption to bilateral trade. The resolution followed talks to address the impact of the UK's March steel safeguard measures which had held up implementation.

The safeguard measures had covered 188 steel items accounting for USD 137 million of exports from India to Britain and were a major sticking point after the pact was signed in July 2025. India’s total steel exports were USD 960 million in 2025 and officials engaged extensively with UK counterparts to protect exporter interests. After prolonged discussions at multiple levels the government secured enhanced market access and continuity for Indian suppliers.

The negotiated framework raised India’s country-specific quota to 168,029 t and provided an exclusive allocation of 945,000 t under the Authorised Use Scheme, equivalent to 0.945 mn t, reserved largely for Indian exporters. For non-alloy and other alloy hot-rolled sheets and strips the country-specific quota was nearly tripled from 12,405 t to 33,456 t to sustain trade flows. The United Kingdom also removed nine commodity codes under the non-alloy wire category so that roughly 95 per cent of India’s shipments in that class remain free of restrictions.

Further gains were secured in several sub-categories with the residual quota for non-alloy merchant bars and light sections rising to 4,540 t from 468 t and the residual quota for other welded tubes increasing to 16,327 t from 10,809 t. Officials said these adjustments aim to maintain equilibrium in the bilateral deal and to mitigate potential trade impacts across critical product categories. The resolution paved the way for the pact’s implementation from July 15.

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