India-UK Trade Deal Opens British Market to Assam Tea

Guwahati: The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement took effect on July 15. The deal opens the British market to 99 percent of Indian exports without duties. Assam tea enters the UK tax-free for the first time. It is a big win. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expects the move to improve prices and strengthen global demand for the state's GI-tagged tea.

Sarma celebrated the deal on social media. "The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement came into force yesterday under the visionary leadership of Adarniya @narendramodi ji," he posted on X. He believes this provides a major boost for the lakhs of workers and growers in the tea gardens.

The agreement covers more than just tea. Assam's agro-processing industry and smaller businesses expect growth from the expanded access. Officials project total bilateral trade between the nations will hit USD 120 billion by 2030. This expansion aims to open doors for farmers, youth, professionals, and women. Sarma credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for driving the partnership forward and securing these gains for domestic producers.