Senior officials and top exporters from a high-level Indian delegation have arrived in London to deepen bilateral trade and showcase India's textiles industry. The visit is crucial for Indian exporters amid efforts to diversify markets following the United States' imposition of a sharp tariff increase on clothing imports.
The US just slapped a 50% duty on imports of garments, a move that is likely to hit Indian exports to its biggest market hard. India is now seeking to strengthen its foothold in 40 countries, which collectively account for nearly $600 billion worth of textile and apparel imports.
Officials emphasized that strategic diversification presents "enormous opportunities" for India's market share expansion in the international textile trade, positioning the industry on a growth trajectory.
Currently, India ranks as the fourth-largest textile exporter to the UK, with goods valued at $2.16 billion in 2024-25, accounting for 6.6% of the UK's total textile and apparel imports. The delegation will seek to build higher levels of this basis with India's value chain, which spans from traditional handlooms to high-tech technical textiles.
One of the central items on the delegation's agenda is utilizing the newly signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK. On July 24, 2025, CETA was signed and defined as the most ambitious UK trade agreement to date, encompassing 26 sectors, including tariffs, technology, and investment.
The agreement is said to double total bilateral trade in goods and services, increasing it to $112 billion from its current figure.
For India's textile industry, CETA offers significant benefits, including preferential access to the UK market, reduced tariffs on key products such as textiles, garments, footwear, and jewelry, as well as enhanced cooperation in areas of technology and innovation.
According to officials, the agreement will enable Indian exporters to compete more easily on quality and price, thereby strengthening their global presence.
The London visit of the delegation also involves B2B interactions, trade fairs, and meetings with UK industry leaders to strengthen collaborations and explore joint ventures.
The delegation aims to stimulate investments and foster sustainable collaborations as part of India’s efforts to position itself in the market by promoting its textile expertise and manufacturing capabilities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the sector.
Some commentators in the industry welcomed the initiative, noting that it represents India’s proactive approach to overcoming obstacles to global textile trade while capturing new opportunities.
“This visit is critical for projecting India’s textile prowess on the international stage, especially in light of shifting trade dynamics,” said an official from the Ministry of Textiles.
Coupled with strategic diplomacy, market diversification, and free trade agreements such as CETA, India is poised to become a trusted and innovative source of supply in the global textile market.
The delegation's initiative in London is likely to enhance trade, generate new business opportunities, and strengthen the India-UK economic partnership over the coming years.