India has granted duty concessions to several niche British agricultural products—including cranberries, durians, select mushroom varieties, leeks, lettuce, and artichokes—under its newly signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the United Kingdom, the commerce ministry announced.
According to the ministry, these products have negligible domestic production in India, and their inclusion in the trade pact is unlikely to impact Indian farmers adversely. “India has liberalized access for some UK agricultural products, like cranberries, durians, certain mushrooms, leeks, lettuce, and artichokes,” a ministry statement noted.
However, India has protected its interests by excluding sensitive fruits such as apples, oranges, pineapples, and pomegranates from any tariff concessions, ensuring that the domestic horticulture sector remains unaffected.
On the export front, India has scored a significant win. Over 95% of Indian agricultural tariff lines will now receive zero-duty access to the UK market. This move is expected to offer Indian farmers and exporters a more level playing field with their European counterparts, such as Germany and the Netherlands, who already enjoy similar benefits under EU-UK agreements.
“This deal will allow Indian farmers to command premium prices for their produce in the UK, especially in segments like fresh grapes, bakery products (bread, cakes, pastries), onions and mixed vegetables, natural honey, preserved vegetables, fruits, and sauces,” the ministry added.
Key domestic sectors such as dairy and cereals remain fully protected. The entire Chapter 4 of the tariff schedule—which includes milk, cheese, butter, ghee, and other dairy items—has been placed in the exclusion list to safeguard Indian dairy producers. Likewise, staples like wheat, rice, maize, and millets have been kept out of the agreement to avoid any risk of import surges or price disruptions.
The agreement is being hailed as a balanced trade deal, one that opens up export opportunities for Indian agriculture while ensuring strategic protection for vulnerable domestic sectors.