The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has hailed the newly signed India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a transformative step for the country’s textile and apparel sector. The FTA, signed on July 24, 2025, eliminates import duties on Indian textile and apparel products entering the United Kingdom, offering Indian exporters a significant competitive edge.
Calling it a “landmark agreement,” CITI Chairman Rakesh Mehra said the deal removes a key barrier that previously limited India’s ability to grow its market share in the UK—one of the largest destinations for Indian textile and apparel exports.
“This FTA can significantly transform the fortunes of India’s textile and apparel industry and provide the much-needed impetus to achieve our ambitious $100 billion export target by 2030,” Mehra said. He emphasized that Indian manufacturers now have a level playing field in the UK market, where competitors from countries like Bangladesh, China, and Türkiye had long benefited from more favorable trade conditions.
India currently ranks as the fourth-largest supplier of textile and apparel products to the UK, with a 6.6% share in the UK’s total T&A imports. In 2024, the UK imported $27 billion worth of T&A products, 83% of which consisted of apparel and made-ups. China led with a 25% share, followed by Bangladesh (15%), Türkiye (8.5%), and India.
An analysis of the UK’s top 20 imported T&A commodities at the HS 6-digit level reveals India’s current share is only 4%, compared to Bangladesh’s 23% and China’s 22.6%. CITI believes the FTA will help close this gap.
The deal also unlocks new potential for India as a supplier of raw materials like MMF filament and specialized nonwoven fabrics, which offer complementary trade opportunities with the UK.
CITI stated that it is actively working with industry players and local authorities to help Indian companies capitalize on this opportunity. “Only by improving efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and innovation can our textile and apparel units fully benefit from this trade deal,” Mehra added.
The India–UK FTA is expected to open new doors for Indian exporters while reinforcing India’s position as a global textile powerhouse.
