India, UK working on ‘creative solution’ on steel issue to operationalise trade pact soon: Commerce Secy
16/05/2026
new delhi, may 15: India and the UK are working on a “unique and creative solution” to address issues arising from Britain’s recent steel safeguard measure so that the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) can be operationalised at an early date, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday.
"On the India, UK FTA we are very near to operationalising that, there are few sticking points as you are aware. UK has come ahead with the steel measure recently, which we had not factored in when we were negotiating the UK-India deal. We are working together to find a creative solution around the steel measure and operationalise the CETA at an early date," Agrawal said.
The UK government recently decided to extend safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products beyond June 2026 in a move aimed at protecting domestic manufacturers from a surge in low-cost imports.
The measures include tariff-rate quotas and additional duties once import thresholds are breached. Indian exporters have raised concerns that the continuation of these curbs could restrict market access and dilute some of the expected gains from the bilateral trade agreement.
India and the UK concluded negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in May 2025, before formally signing the pact in July of the same year.
India and the UK announced the conclusion of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) earlier this month after more than two years of negotiations that began in January 2022.
The agreement is expected to lower or eliminate tariffs across a range of sectors including automobiles, whisky, textiles, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals and engineering goods, while also improving access for services and professionals.
Agrawal also said India remained engaged with Washington on a bilateral trade agreement being pursued by the two countries.
"On the India-US trade deal we are very engaged, and we are working together to see whenever there is an opportune time we can take the agreement forward as decided by our leaders," he said.
On Washington's Section 301 investigations into tariff-related measures, Agrawal said India had participated in consultations with the US administration and submitted its views on May 14.
"We have engaged with US on section 301 investigations, submissions have been made on that and we took part in consultations that took place yesterday on this probe in the US. Once the consultation is over it is upto US to take a call on 301 probe on the tariffs," he said.
The Section 301 process allows the US Trade Representative to investigate and respond to what Washington considers unfair foreign trade practices. India has previously faced scrutiny from the US over tariff structures and digital trade-related policies.
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