Textiles industry leaders hail India-UK FTA

India’s textile industry leaders opine, eliminating previous tariffs ranging from 8-12 per cent on nearly all Indian textile and apparel exports to the UK, the India-UK FTA helps boost the price competitiveness of Indian products against those from major exporters like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. Sammir Dattani, Executive Director, Sanathan Textiles, opines the FTA will significantly benefit the company’s polyester filament yarn division, aligning with projected 30-45 per cent growth in Indian textile exports to the UK by 2030. These yarns are crucial for athletic wear due to their lightweight and quick-drying properties, he notes.

Calling the FTA a ‘game-changer’, Shiraz Askari, President, Apollo Fashion International says, with 9 per cent of textile and apparel tariff lines now duty-free, the FTA brings Indian exporters on an equal footing in the UK's design-driven and sustainability-conscious market. This will help increase demand for cotton garments, home textiles, and artisan-led apparel, he asserts.