Policy – July 15, 2026
India: new era begins for UK salmon exports
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force on Wednesday, eliminating Indian import tariffs on UK exports of fresh and frozen salmon with immediate effect.
The agreement is expected to improve the competitiveness of Scottish salmon in one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets, where imported seafood has historically faced tariffs of around 33%. The deal also removes tariffs on cod and lamb, while duties on products including whisky and chocolate will be reduced over time.
Under the agreement, India will immediately eliminate tariffs on 64% of tariff lines, with a further 21% to be phased out, while 85% of tariff lines will ultimately become duty-free over a 10-year period. The UK has removed tariffs on 96.8% of Indian tariff lines.
The agreement is expected to strengthen the UK's position in India's premium seafood market, where demand for imported Atlantic salmon has been growing alongside rising incomes and an expanding hospitality sector. Scottish salmon producers have previously identified India as a long-term growth market, although exports remain modest compared with established destinations in Europe, North America and Asia.
