The United Kingdom and India confirm their free trade agreement will take effect on 15 July 2026, ending months of uncertainty over steel trade disputes. India secured assurances that eighty-five percent of its steel exports will be unaffected by new British protective measures. The remaining volumes will access the UK market through dedicated quotas and special schemes. The deal, originally signed in July 2025, is projected to boost annual bilateral trade by over thirty-two billion US dollars in the long term.