Kolkata, May 7 (UNI) The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) would provide a big boost to engineering exports from India, the EEPC India opined on Wednesday welcoming the landmark signing in post tariff war imposed by the USA Trump administration

EEPC India chairman Pankaj Chadha said by increasing the competitiveness of engineering goods in the UK, the deal is set to help the exporting community deepen their presence in the key market.

" EEPC India welcomes this key development and congratulates the Government of India for inking such a comprehensive and transformative trade pact, which could act as a template for other FTAs being negotiated with several countries and trade blocs," Chadha said.

With the FTA in place, engineering exports to the UK are projected to nearly double over the next five years, reaching around $7.55 billion by 2029-30, EEPC India estimated.

The UK is currently India's sixth largest engineering export destination. The total engineering exports to the UK stood at $4.01 billion in the financial year 2024-25, a growth of 11.7 percent over exports worth $3.59 billion in the previous year.

Major products exported to the UK include steel and steel products, aluminium and products, electric machinery, construction machinery, industrial machinery, auto components, medical and scientific instruments etc.

Notably, in March 2025, engineering exports to the UK surged by 32.9 pc reaching $429.1 million, signalling strong trade momentum even before the FTA came into force.

“The India-UK Free Trade Agreement is a landmark moment for the Indian engineering industry,” said Chadha

“With tariff elimination on nearly 99 pc of Indian exports, our engineering products will gain a competitive edge in the UK market. This pact opens immense opportunities for both MSMEs and large enterprises, enabling deeper market penetration, enhanced value addition, and a stronger foothold in one of India’s key trading partners.” the EEPC India chief said.

" This will not only solidify the UK’s position as a key trading partner but also contribute meaningfully to India’s overall goal of reaching USD 300 billion in engineering exports by 2030," he concluded.

The timing of the deal, signed by the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies, respectively, is significant. It comes as global trade is reeling under the tariffs unleashed by US President Donald Trump in early April.

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