Media

Sealed Over Ice Cream: India-UK Free Trade Agreement

Author: Vikesh Kirpalani

Published: Jun 20th, 2025

Category: Media

In a scene straight out of a movie, India and the UK wrapped up a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) not in a boardroom—but during a casual stroll through London’s Hyde Park, with ice creams in hand.

India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds finalized the long-anticipated deal in May 2025, marking the end of over two years of negotiations. The agreement is expected to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, ushering in new opportunities across goods, services, and investment.

For UK food producers and exporters, this trade deal unlocks one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets:

• Lower tariffs on British food and drink products—such as chocolates, cheese, alcoholic beverages, biscuits, and breakfast cereals—make them more price-competitive in India.
• Streamlined export procedures and reduced regulatory friction help UK brands enter the Indian market more easily, especially in premium and packaged food categories.
• Growing urban middle-class demand in India for international and gourmet products presents a huge opportunity for UK retailers and manufacturers to expand shelf presence.
• The agreement also sets the stage for joint ventures, private label deals, and food innovation collaborations between UK suppliers and Indian distributors or supermarkets.

In short, the FTA gives UK food brands a stronger foothold in India’s dynamic retail landscape, allowing them to tap into a young, aspirational, and increasingly global-minded consumer base.