Scotch, Curry and Fries: A New Recipe for UK-India Trade Relations

While the world doomscrolls through headlines of a high-stakes tariff brawl between China and the US — tit-for-tat duties flying and tensions peaking — something quieter, sharper, and smarter is simmering on the global trade stove. As economic giants clash and decouple, India and the UK are flipping the script and cooking up a very different story: one of collaboration over confrontation, strategy over noise..Call it what you will — a diplomatic plot twist, a geopolitical power play, or the ultimate slow-burn success — but on May 6, 2025, India and the UK signed a game-changing Free Trade Agreement (FTA), wrapped in a sleek Double Taxation Convention. It’s not just a deal; it’s a declaration. Sure, India and the UK have had their fair share of ups and downs — a history laced with colonial baggage, economic standoffs, and missed opportunities. But this FTA isn’t about rewriting the past; it’s about reshaping the business renaissance. This is a bold new chapter where East meets West not in rivalry, but in rhythm — a cross-continental power reshaping the global trade dynamics.And this isn’t your average stack of trade paperwork — it’s a high-stakes handshake, a power move with punch. Framed around the three powerhouse Ps — People, Possibilities, and Prosperity — the deal is equal parts ambition and pragmatism, trust and transformation. It’s not just about slashing tariffs — it’s about spicing up global trade with hope, history, and a hard reset on how nations can work together. If the old world was about building walls, this deal is about setting the table. And guess what? Everyone’s invited. We all know that trade talks can be a bit of a snooze – but imagine the UK and India’s FTA negotiations are a shared meal. There’s flavour, friction and a whole lot of back and forth. It's not just about what’s on the table, but about the fact that the two nations have chosen to sit down together and taste the future..Pull up a chair. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is less of a dry trade negotiation and more of a five-course diplomatic dinner complete with drama and spice. As two nations sign’s one of the most ambitious deals lets decode its menu.Tariffs & Trade: Cheaper Scotch, Cheaper Saris.Cheaper Scotch: Tariff Reductions and Market Impact Tariff Reductions - Initial Reduction: India has agreed to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky from 150% to 75% immediately upon implementation of the FTA. - Gradual Decrease: Over the next decade, tariffs will further decrease to 40%, making Scotch more affordable for Indian consumers. Market Implications - Market Share Growth: Scotch whisky currently holds a 2% share of the Indian whisky market. With the tariff reductions, this share is expected to triple to 6%. - Revenue Increase: The Indian government could see an annual tax revenue boost of £3.4 billion due to increased Scotch sales..Cheaper Saris: Boost for Indian Textiles Tariff Elimination - Zero Tariffs: The UK will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, including textiles, apparel, and footwear. - Specific Reductions: Tariffs on items like shirts, trousers, women's dresses, and bed linen, previously ranging from 10% to 12%, will be removed, enhancing the competitiveness of Indian textiles in the UK market. Economic Impact - Export Growth: The removal of tariffs is expected to boost Indian textile exports to the UK, benefiting labour-intensive sectors and supporting employment. - Market Expansion: Indian products will gain a stronger foothold in the UK, potentially increasing market share and revenue for Indian exporters..Broader Economic Implications - Trade Volume Increase: The FTA is projected to enhance bilateral trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) annually by 2040. - Tariff Reductions Across Sectors: India will reduce tariffs on 90% of British goods, including automobiles and medical devices, while the UK will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian goods. - Strategic Significance: This agreement is the UK's most significant trade deal post-Brexit and positions India as a key trade partner, potentially paving the way for future agreements with the EU and the US..“Shift Your wine To Scotch Whisky” Still, progress is brewing. Under the FTA, India will reduce the whisky tariff to 75%, with more cuts to follow, inviting UK distillers into the Indian market and raising spirits literally and figuratively.Mobility & Visas: Curry Chefs and Coders Unite.Additionally, the agreement permits intra-company transfers for Indian employees, with provisions for visa durations up to five years, depending on the role and remuneration. Indian companies can now second employees to the UK for up to three years without the obligation to pay National Insurance Contributions (NICs). This exemption is expected to save approximately £100 million and aligns with similar reciprocal agreements the UK holds with over 50 countries. Although separate from the FTA, the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) complements the agreement by permitting up to 3,000 Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK for up to two years. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including holding at least a bachelor's degree and demonstrating sufficient savings..Cars and Collaboration: From Jugaad to Jaguars.Here comes the dessert luxury. India will reduce duties on fully built luxury cars from over 100% to just 10% but only for a limited number. Expect more Jaguars on Delhi’s roads (and perhaps more Jugaads finding their way to Britain). To sweeten the deal, UK companies sourcing at least 20% of their parts from India will receive a warm welcome in government procurement under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Industrial romance is in the air..Numbers Don’t Lie (But They Do Dance) .According to the UK Department for Business and Trade, the FTA is expected to boost the UK economy by £3.4 billion annually and India’s GDP by $4.6 billion in the next five years. That’s enough to fund a dozen new James Bond films and perhaps a few Chandrayaan missions too.Trade between the two nations already stood at £38.1 billion in 2024, and with the FTA, the goal is to double that by 2030. That’s not just economic growth; that’s spicy vindaloo economics..The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is no bland bureaucratic paper pile; it’s a symbol for the emergence of a new IT-couple in the international trade sphere. It’s not just about slashing tariffs; it’s about spicing up global trade with ambition, nostalgia, and a dash of much-needed unity. In a global atmosphere of competition, conflict and isolationism, this FTA shines as an antidote to protectionism. Sure, the negotiations haven’t exactly been a walk-through Hyde Park. They've had more suspense than an India-England cricket final: deadlines missed, tempers tested, and enough diplomatic footwork to qualify as a dance-off. But through it all, the vision stays intact - a shared prosperity, sealed not with a sword, but with a signature and maybe a few mutually agreed-upon footnotes. In the theatre of global trade, the UK-India FTA isn’t just a side act; it’s the main event, with high stakes, dramatic arcs, and just enough masala to keep the world watching. So, here’s to open markets, stronger ties, and fewer tariffs. And if everything aligns just right maybe even a spicy little trade surplus. Cheers to that with a dram of Scotch in one hand and a samosa in the other..We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility of our future.George Bernard Shaw.About the authors: Sudhir Mishra is the Managing Partner of Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants. He is also a Door Tenant at No5 Barristers' Chambers, UK.Ajit Mishra is the Founder and Chair of the UK-India Legal Partnership..Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors. 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