The Government of India has invited applications for the import of passenger vehicles and select goods transport vehicles from the United Kingdom under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) mechanism of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Eligible importers can apply during a two-week window, according to a report by ANI.
As per a gazette notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), applications for the 2026 calendar year quota will be accepted from July 21 to August 4, 2026.
The first phase of the quota covers 9,316 vehicles, which will be eligible for concessional customs duty under the trade agreement. The allocation includes 2,329 passenger vehicles with engine capacities up to 1,500 cc, 2,329 mid-segment passenger vehicles, and 4,658 higher engine-capacity or premium passenger vehicles, the latter attracting a concessional customs duty of 30% under the agreement. A separate quota has also been earmarked for certain completely built goods transport vehicles.
Under the India-UK CETA, India has agreed to permit the import of 20,000 UK-manufactured vehicles at preferential duty rates during the first year of the agreement, with the current allocation representing the initial phase of the quota.
To qualify for allocation, applicants must submit a pre-purchase agreement issued by the concerned UK-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM), specifying the number of vehicles to be supplied during the relevant TRQ year.
According to the DGFT, imports under the quota will be processed in accordance with the operational procedures outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
