FTA checker — does your product qualify for preferential duty?
Pick your route and product to see the normal customs duty, the preferential duty under the free trade agreement, the rule of origin for your HS code and how to get proof of origin. No HS code needed — search by product name.
What is an FTA? How does preferential duty work?
A free trade agreement (FTA) lets goods that originate in one member country enter another at a preferential customs duty, often zero. The rate is not automatic: the goods must meet the agreement's rules of origin for their HS code, and the importer must hold proof of origin when claiming it.
Markets live today
- India → United Kingdom — India–UK CETA, in force since 15 July 2026
More markets are being added. Under the India–UK CETA, 15,923 of 16,591 UK commodity codes carry a 0% India rate; the other 668 — mostly iron and steel, rice and some meat — are excluded and pay the normal UK duty.
How the FTA checker works
Choose where you export from and to, type your product — or the HS code if you know it — and pick the closest HS classification.
The checker reads every national tariff line under that HS code in the importing country and shows the normal duty, the FTA duty and the difference. If the lines carry different duties, you pick yours.
Open What you need to comply for the product-specific rule of origin, how to get proof of origin and who issues it.
What the result does not do
- It does not decide whether your shipment qualifies — the rule of origin is shown as text, never pass or fail.
- It does not calculate landed cost, VAT, freight or a saving on per-kg and per-litre duties.
- It does not cover non-tariff measures such as SPS checks or labelling rules.
Normal duty, FTA duty and other preferences
Normal / MFN duty
The rate any country pays without a preference (most-favoured nation). Some lines are a percentage, others a fixed amount per 100 kg or per litre.
FTA preferential duty
The rate under the free trade agreement. You get it only if the goods meet the rule of origin and the importer holds proof of origin.
Other preference schemes
Some importers already give a reduced rate outside the FTA — for India to the UK, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). Where it applies, the checker shows it so you see the real saving from the FTA, not just the gap to the normal duty.
India → UK examples
| Product (HS) | Normal | CETA | DCTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton T-shirts (610910) | 12% | 0% | 9.6% |
| Cotton men's trousers (620342) | 12% | 0% | — |
| Milled rice (100630) | £121 / 1,000 kg | Excluded | — |
Shipping abroad? Check the paperwork with the exporter document checklist, and see what goes on a commercial invoice.
India → UK sources: UK Trade Tariff · HMRC Trade Tariff notice, 13 July 2026: India FTA enters into force on 15 July 2026 · GOV.UK: UK–India free trade agreement is now in effect · CETA Annex 2A(B): UK schedule of tariff commitments · CETA Chapter 3: Rules of origin (with Annex 3A product-specific rules) · PIB: implementation of the India–UK CETA · DGFT Trade Notice 11/2026-27 (secondary copy). Rates as of 15 October 2026. Indicative information, not legal or customs advice.
Frequently asked questions — FTA duty and rules of origin
What does the FTA checker tell me?
For your product and route it shows the normal customs duty, the preferential duty under the free trade agreement, the difference, the product-specific rule of origin and how to get proof of origin. It covers exports from India to the United Kingdom today; more markets are being added.
Does my product automatically get the FTA rate?
No. The goods must originate under the agreement's rules of origin, and the importer must hold proof of origin when claiming the rate. Each HS code has a product-specific rule — wholly obtained, a change in tariff classification, a minimum value content, or a combination.
What is the difference between the normal duty and the FTA duty?
The normal (MFN) duty is what goods from any country pay without a preference. The FTA duty is the preferential rate for goods that qualify under the agreement. Some countries also give a reduced rate under their own schemes — for the UK, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme — and the checker shows it so you see the real saving.
Is the India–UK FTA in force?
Yes. The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force on 15 July 2026. Of 16,591 UK commodity codes, 15,923 carry a 0% India rate; the other 668 — mostly iron and steel, rice and some meat — are excluded and pay the normal UK duty.
How do I get a certificate of origin for the India–UK CETA?
On DGFT Trade Connect. Since 15 July 2026 you can self-declare origin — signed with your DSC, no fee — or apply to an authorised agency such as the Export Inspection Council, APEDA, MPEDA or the Textiles Committee. Give the proof to your UK importer with the shipping documents.
Do I need to know my HS code?
No. Type the product name and pick the closest HS classification from the suggestions. If you know the code, type 6 digits or more and the checker uses the first six.
Where do the rates come from?
From the importing country's official tariff. For the UK, that is the UK Trade Tariff, read on 15 October 2026 — the normal third-country duty and the India preference for each 10-digit commodity code. Rates can change; confirm with your importer or customs broker before you price a shipment.