India, UK hope to resolve steel issue, implement CETA soon: Commerce Secy

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.

The two countries, on July 24, 2025, signed the agreement. “We are very near to operationalising that. There are a few sticking points, as you are aware, the UK has come ahead with a steel measure recently, which was not factored in while negotiating the India-UK deal. We are working together to find a unique, creative solution around the steel measure, also so that we can operationalise the India-UK CETA at an early date,” he told reporters here.

From July 1, 2026, the UK will limit tariff-free steel imports, reducing overall quota volumes by 60 per cent compared to the steel safeguard measure. Any imports above these levels will then face a 50 per cent tariff.

The measure will apply to imports of steel products that can also be made in the UK.