In a major milestone for India–UK economic ties, both countries signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on July 24, 2025, marking a shift toward duty-free trade and deeper commercial cooperation. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this agreement is India’s seafood sector. CETA eliminates import tariffs on a wide range of marine products, including shrimp, squid, lobsters, fish oils, and value-added seafood, enhancing the competitiveness of Indian exporters in one of Europe’s most premium markets.
Previously subject to tariffs ranging from 0% to 21.5%, these marine products will now enjoy 100% duty-free access in the UK, making them significantly more attractive to British importers and boosting India’s marine export revenues.
The agreement was formalised in London in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, signed the agreement, which grants zero-duty access on 99% of tariff lines and opens up key services sectors.
For India’s marine industry, the deal is especially significant. Under CETA, all fish and fisheries commodities under the UK tariff schedule categories marked ‘A’, including HS Codes 03, 05, 15, 1603, 1604, 1605, 23, and 95, now receive immediate duty-free access. This covers exports such as Vannamei shrimp, frozen pomfret, black tiger shrimp, frozen squid, lobsters, fish oils, marine feed, and fishing gear. However, products under HS Code 1601, like sausages, remain excluded from preferential treatment.
Until now, Indian seafood exporters faced a competitive disadvantage in the UK compared to countries like Vietnam and Singapore, which already enjoyed free trade agreements with the UK. CETA now places India on a level playing field, particularly in the high-value seafood and value-added segments.
In 2024–25, India’s seafood exports reached $7.38 billion (Rs 60,523 crore), with frozen shrimp alone contributing $4.88 billion (66%). Marine exports to the UK totaled $104 million (Rs 879 crore), of which frozen shrimp accounted for $80 million (77%). Yet India’s share in the UK’s $5.4 billion seafood import market remains just 2.25%. With CETA, industry projections estimate a 70% increase in exports to the UK in the coming years.
Beyond trade, the agreement carries strong social and economic significance. The fisheries sector supports the livelihoods of approximately 28 million Indians, especially across coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. With duty-free access and enhanced compliance with UK sanitary and phytosanitary standards, these regions are poised for greater export opportunities and improved earnings for fisherfolk, processors, and exporters.
Over the past decade, India’s seafood exports have grown by 60% in volume and 88% in value. Export destinations have expanded from 100 to 130 countries, and value-added marine product exports have tripled to Rs 7,666 crore, underscoring a shift toward premium global markets. With better market access and improved margins, the agreement delivers a significant financial boost across the marine value chain.
