DGFT approves import of 642 UK cars under India-UK FTA quota

The DGFT has approved applications from seven companies to import 642 cars from Britain under the India-UK free trade agreement's tariff rate quota. The move follows applications for 2026 quotas covering about 5,000 fully built vehicles

New Delhi: The commerce ministry’s arm, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has approved applications from seven companies to import 642 cars from Britain for the remainder of this year under the tariff rate quota provisions of the India-UK free trade agreement, an official said on Wednesday.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in July invited applications for the allocation of 2026 import quotas for fully built passenger cars and goods vehicles under the duty concession provisions of the agreement. The applications were sought for a quota of about 5,000 units.

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“The directorate had received applications from eight companies. We have approved applications from seven. Quota has been approved for 642 cars,” the official said.

Under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into effect on July 15, New Delhi has allowed the import of a total of 3.78 lakh units of conventional-engine passenger cars, including those in the mass segment, from the UK at a concessional customs duty during the first 15 years of implementation of the trade pact between the two countries.

Under the pact, tariffs on automotive imports will fall from about 110 per cent to 10 per cent, with quotas on both sides.

Only original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), dealers and channel partners duly authorised by the OEMs of vehicles originating in the UK were eligible to apply for the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ).