India hopes to implement its free trade agreements with the UK and the EU in calendar year 2026, by May 1 and November-end respectively, senior official sources have said. But the trade deals with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and Israel have taken a back seat due to the on-going West Asia conflict, the officials added. "Discussions with the UK on the FTA implementation have recently taken place at the top level confirming that the processes are all on track. It is expected that the deal will kick off by April-end or May 1", an official, tracking the matter, said. India and the UK signed the deal, officially called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, in July 2025, and it will come into effect when the UK Parliament approves it. Eliminating tariffs Once implemented, the agreement will lead to the UK eliminating tariffs for India on about 99 per cent of tariff lines.

Sectors expected to benefit include agriculture, food processing, seafood, textiles, engineering goods, electronics, footwear and gems & jewellery. India, on the other hand, agreed to give tariff-free access to the UK on 85 per cent of its tariff lines spread over 10 years resulting in significant gains for whisky and liquor, automobiles, advanced manufacturing and agri-food products.