India Trade & Customs Updates: Key Changes Issued Between 12 to 17 July 2026

India issued several important trade, customs and export-policy updates between 12 to 17 July 2026. These changes cover the implementation of the India–UK CETA, tariff-rate quotas under the India–Oman CEPA, export-credit interest support, revised customs tariff values, higher duty drawback rates, central excise changes and new export-branding initiatives.

Importers, exporters, customs brokers, banks and compliance teams should review these updates and align their filing processes, documentation and duty calculations accordingly.

1. India–UK CETA Customs Benefits Take Effect

The government issued Notification No. 29/2026-Customs to implement customs-duty concessions for goods imported from the United Kingdom under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

The notification introduces preferential Basic Customs Duty rates, Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess rates and Health Cess rates across a wide range of tariff lines. It also provides tariff-rate quota benefits for specified products, including certain motor vehicles.

Importers can claim these benefits only when they establish that the goods originate in the United Kingdom. They must comply with the applicable Rules of Origin and the Customs Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements Rules, 2020.

The notification came into force on 15 July 2026.

What importers should check

Importers claiming India–UK CETA benefits should verify:

• Product classification and applicable preferential duty rate

• Origin qualification under the agreement

• Availability of the required Origin Declaration

• Tariff-rate quota authorisation, wherever applicable

• Correct declaration of the preferential notification in the Bill of Entry

2. Preferential eCoO Filing Begins for Indian Exports to the UK

DGFT’s Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 introduced electronic filing and issuance of Preferential Certificates of Origin for Indian exports to the UK.

Exporters can apply through the Trade Connect ePlatform under two routes:

Self-declaration route

Exporters using the self-declaration route must:

• Link a valid Digital Signature Certificate with their IEC

• Upload a scanned copy of the applicant’s ink-signed signature

• Select “India UK CETA (Self-Declaration)” while applying

• Generate the final self-declared Certificate of Origin using the linked DSC

The system generates an electronic copy and a printable physical copy. Both contain a QR code and digital signature.

Although exporters may submit the initial application using DSC or Aadhaar authentication without paying a fee, a linked DSC remains mandatory for generating the final self-declared eCoO.

Authorised-agency route

Exporters can also select “India-UK CETA (Agency Issued)” and submit the application to an authorised issuing agency. After approval, the system generates an electronic Certificate of Origin with a QR code, digital signature, issuing officer’s signature and agency stamp.

The facility became operational from 15 July 2026.

3. Authentication of UK Origin Declarations for Imports into India

CBIC issued Circular No. 33/2026-Customs to explain how India will authenticate self-certified Origin Declarations issued by UK exporters or producers.

Before an Indian importer claims preferential treatment, the UK exporter or producer must send the completed Origin Declaration simultaneously to:

• The designated CBIC nodal email address

• The Indian importer’s ICEGATE-registered email address

  
  

After successful authentication, the system generates a Unique Reference Number, or URN. The Indian importer must quote this URN in the relevant Bill of Entry while claiming preferential duty treatment.

The circular also clarifies that:

• An Origin Declaration remains valid for 12 months.

• It generally applies to a single shipment.

• A declaration used for warehoused goods may support multiple corresponding ex-bond clearances.

• Importers do not need fresh authentication for every ex-bond clearance when the prescribed conditions are met.

• Goods arriving in India or remaining under customs control on or after 15 July 2026 may qualify for preferential treatment, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Authentication confirms that a genuine UK exporter or producer issued the declaration. Customs may still separately verify whether the goods meet the applicable origin criteria.

4. India–Oman CEPA Tariff-Rate Quota Procedure Notified

DGFT’s Public Notice No. 20/2026-27 amended Paragraph 2.92 and Appendix 2A of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023, to include tariff-rate quota procedures under the India–Oman CEPA.

The notified TRQs cover product categories such as:

• Fresh and other dates

• Marble blocks, slabs and monumental stone

• Ethylene glycol

• Linear alkylbenzene

• Polyethylene and polypropylene products

• PVC, PET and polyurethane products

• Copper wire

• Aluminium ingots, billets and wire

Importers must apply online through the DGFT Import Management System under the Tariff Rate Quota section. They must also produce a Certificate of Origin issued by the competent authority in Oman at the time of customs clearance.

For FY 2027-28 onward, applicants must submit annual allocation applications by 28 February of the preceding financial year. DGFT will separately announce the FY 2026-27 application window for pro-rata allocation.

A TRQ authorisation will remain valid for a maximum of 12 months or until the end of the relevant financial year, whichever occurs earlier. Customs will permit imports only after electronically debiting the authorised quantity in ICES.

5. DGFT Clarifies Export-Credit Interest Subvention Requirements

DGFT issued Trade Notice No. 13/2026-27 to address operational issues under the Interest Subvention Support for Pre- and Post-Shipment Export Credit under the Export Promotion Mission – Niryat Protsahan.

The key clarifications include:

Additional claims for earlier periods

Banks may submit additional claims by 31 July 2026 for eligible export credit:

• Disbursed on or after 2 January 2026; and

• Supported by a UIN generated on or before 31 May 2026.

UIN timeline for FY 2026-27

The relaxation allowing UIN generation until 31 May 2026 applies only to eligible FY 2025-26 credit.

For FY 2026-27 onward, exporters must generate the UIN within 15 days from the original disbursement date.

When credit is disbursed near the end of a month, banks may submit the claim by the last date of the following month. The effective claim-filing period is therefore one month from the date of disbursement.

Separate UINs for separate facilities

A single UIN cannot cover both pre-shipment and post-shipment interest subvention benefits. Banks must use the UIN corresponding to the relevant credit facility.

Financial-year-specific UIN mapping

When a running export-credit account continues into a new financial year, the earlier financial year’s UIN covers only the subvention period falling within that year.

A fresh or revised UIN is required for interest subvention accruing in the next financial year. Banks must not cross-map monthly claims against UINs belonging to another financial year.

Additional claims for January to May 2026 must be filed separately from regular June claims and must carry the required external auditor’s certificate.

6. Niryat Disha Introduces Global Branding and Packaging Support

DGFT also launched the Global Outreach for Branding, Labelling and Export Packaging initiative under the Export Promotion Mission – Niryat Disha.

The programme aims to strengthen Brand India through:

• A unified national brand framework

• Sector-specific branding campaigns

• International marketing and promotion

• Destination-specific packaging and localisation

• Digital and social-media campaigns

• Overseas product demonstrations

• Sustainable and internationally compliant packaging

• AI-driven promotional and product-discovery tools

Eligible entities include Central and State Government organisations, Department of Commerce agencies, Indian missions abroad, recognised Export Promotion Councils, commodity boards and industry associations. Export clusters and district export hubs may participate through a nominated lead implementing entity.

The assistance framework provides:

• Up to 100% support or funding of up to ₹200 crore for multi-year central campaigns executed by government agencies

• Up to 50% of eligible expenditure, capped at ₹10 crore per project, for sector-branding projects in priority sectors

The initiative took effect prospectively and immediately. DGFT also invited stakeholder feedback within 30 days of the Trade Notice.

7. Customs Tariff Values Revised

Through Notification No. 63/2026-Customs (N.T.), CBIC revised tariff values for selected edible oils, brass scrap, gold and silver.

Important notified values include:

• Crude Palm Oil: USD 1,203 per metric tonne

• RBD Palm Oil: USD 1,215 per metric tonne

• Crude Palmolein: USD 1,221 per metric tonne

• RBD Palmolein: USD 1,224 per metric tonne

• Crude Soybean Oil: USD 1,238 per metric tonne

• Brass Scrap: USD 7,599 per metric tonne

• Gold: USD 1,311 per 10 grams

• Silver: USD 1,869 per kilogram

The tariff value for areca nuts remains unchanged at USD 10,785 per metric tonne. The revised values became effective on 16 July 2026.

8. Duty Drawback Amounts Increased for Chapter 71 Products

Notification No. 64/2026-Customs (N.T.) revised drawback amounts for three tariff items under Chapter 71:

• Tariff item 711301: revised from 773.17 to 1,851.99

• Tariff item 711302: revised from 14,990.66 to 29,501.09

• Tariff item 711401: revised from 14,990.66 to 29,501.09

Exporters dealing in the covered jewellery and precious-metal product categories should update their drawback calculations and verify the revised schedule before filing shipping bills.

9. Central Excise Rates Updated

The government also revised rates under two existing Central Excise exemption notifications.

Under Notification No. 38/2026-Central Excise, the notified rates for two entries were changed to:

• ₹2.50 per litre

• ₹15.50 per litre

The changes took effect from 16 July 2026.

Under Notification No. 39/2026-Central Excise, the applicable rate for the specified entry was revised to ₹14.50 per litre, effective from the same date.

Businesses working with goods covered by the underlying notifications should revise their tax masters and validate the updated rates before completing excise calculations.

10. Common Adjudicating Authority Appointed

Through Notification No. 65/2026-Customs (N.T.), CBIC appointed the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs (Import), Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai, as the common adjudicating authority for multiple show-cause notices issued to Inditex Trent Retail India Pvt. Ltd. by customs formations across India.

This is primarily an administrative adjudication measure intended to consolidate proceedings before a single authority.

Conclusion

The July 2026 updates combine major trade-agreement implementation with practical changes to export incentives, origin documentation, tariff values and customs calculations.

The India–UK CETA introduces new preferential-duty opportunities, but it also adds detailed origin-authentication and URN requirements. At the same time, the India–Oman TRQ framework, revised export-credit rules and updated duty values require businesses to maintain accurate records and act within prescribed timelines.

india-trade-customs-updates-key-changes-issued-between-12-and-17-july-2026india-trade-customs-updates-key-changes-issued-between-12-and-17-july-2026Importers, exporters and customs professionals should update their systems early and validate every preferential claim against the applicable notification, origin document and procedural requirement.