Directorate General of Foreign Trade Opens Import Quota Applications for British Vehicles

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification inviting Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) applications for the import of motor vehicles originating from the United Kingdom under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) for the calendar year (CY) 2027. The official application window remains open from November 6 to November 21, 2026. Eligible traders seeking preferential tariff treatment must file their applications through the designated online portal within these dates.

Tariff Rate Quotas allow specific quantities of goods to be imported at reduced or zero customs duty rates under international trade pacts, whereas quantities exceeding the quota face standard tariff rates. The administration mechanism ensures fair allocation among competing importers based on established trade policy guidelines. Compliance with application deadlines and documentary prerequisites is mandatory to qualify for the preferential quota allocation. Import-export managers, customs brokers, and automotive distributors must prepare their filing documentation ahead of the November 6 opening date.

Practitioners should monitor DGFT portal updates and trade notices to prevent procedural rejections during the fortnight-long application window. Securing a TRQ allocation is essential for optimizing import cost structures and maintaining competitive pricing for foreign-manufactured vehicles.