Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal announced that India's free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK is close to being operationalized, but new UK steel safeguard measures may cause delays. The UK plans to cut tariff-free steel import quotas by 60% starting July 1, which raises concerns for India, as its iron and steel exports to the UK were valued at $893.4 million in 2025-26. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July 2025, aims to grant 99% of Indian exports duty-free access to the UK market, while India will reduce tariffs on 90% of UK imports. Both countries are seeking a creative solution to address the steel policy concerns, ensuring smoother bilateral trade. Additionally, the US trade team is set to visit India in June to discuss trade practices under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, following India's previous scrutiny over its tariff regime and digital trade policies.