Addressing the India Global Forum in London on 29 June, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called the forthcoming UK-India Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) “the most comprehensive agreement India has entered into so far”. The deal, slated to enter into force on 15 July 2026, cuts tariffs to zero on 92 percent of goods but also embeds detailed chapters on services trade, business-visitor entry and intra-corporate transferees. According to negotiators, the agreement will allow short-term business visitors up to 90 days visa-free for market research, trade fairs and after-sales support, while creating a dedicated quota for ICT transferees and contractual service suppliers. A separate Double Contributions Convention takes effect the same day, exempting detached workers from host-country social-security payments for five years. Indian IT and consulting firms—which together deploy more than 40,000 staff to the UK annually—stand to save an estimated £120 million a year in National Insurance contributions. British firms in India will enjoy reciprocal benefits under India’s EPF regime. Mobility managers should audit assignment policies against the new rules: some roles that currently require a Tier-2 sponsorship may switch to the cheaper, quicker business-visitor route. Companies should also update cost projections for 2026-27 budgets to reflect social-security savings.
Source: The Tribune
