FTA ya India-UK: Hatua Kubwa huku 85% ya Usafirishaji wa Chuma Ukiepuka Vikwazo vya Uingereza

Katika ushindi mkubwa kwa wasafirishaji wa India, Makubaliano ya Biashara Huria (FTA) kati ya India na UK yamefanikiwa kutatua mkwamo mkubwa kuhusu ulinzi wa chuma. Makubaliano haya ya kihistoria yanahakikisha kuwa sehemu kubwa ya usafirishaji wa chuma kutoka India itabaki kuwa salama dhidi ya hatua kali zinazotarajiwa kuwekwa nchini Uingereza.

Kutatua Mkwamo wa Ulinzi wa Chuma

Mazungumzo kuhusu mfumo wa ulinzi wa chuma uliopendekezwa na UK hapo awali yalikuwa moja ya vikwazo vigumu zaidi katika kutekeleza Makubaliano ya Kiuchumi na Biashara ya Kina (CETA). Hata hivyo, kufuatia mazungumzo ya ngazi ya juu kati ya Waziri wa Biashara na Viwanda wa India, Piyush Goyal, na Waziri wa Serikali wa UK, Peter Kyle, mfumo umewekwa ili kulinda biashara ya pande mbili.

Chini ya makubaliano mapya, 85% ya usafirishaji wa chuma wa India itabaki nje ya upeo wa hatua kali za UK. Ili kufanikisha hili, India imepata mchanganyiko wa kimkakati wa ulinzi, ikijumuisha Ngana Maalum kwa Nchi (Country-Specific Quotas - CSQ), ngana zilizobaki (residual quotas), na upatikanaji chini ya Mpango wa Matumizi Yaliyoidhinishwa (Authorised Use Scheme - AUS). Mpangilio huu umeundwa ili kupunguza usumbufu wa soko na kudumisha mazingira ya biashara yenye usawa kwa watengenezaji wa India.

Kuelewa Mfumo Mpya wa Chuma wa Uingereza

Uamuzi huu unakuja wakati muhimu, huku UK ikijiandaa kutekeleza mfumo uliofanyiwa marekebisho wa ulinzi kuanzia Julai 1, 2026. Mfumo huu mpya unakaza vikwazo vya uingizaji bidhaa kwa kiasi kikubwa ikilinganishwa na matoleo ya awali. Sifa kuu za mfumo wa Uingereza ni pamoja na:

• Upunguzaji wa Ngana: Jumla ya kiasi cha ngana kwa ajili ya uingizaji wa chuma bila ushuru itapunguzwa kwa 60% ikilinganishwa na utaratibu uliopo.
• Adhabu za Ushuru: Uingizaji wowote wa chuma utakaozidi ngana hizi mpya na kali utawekewa ushuru mkubwa wa 50%.
• Upeo wa Matumizi: Hatua hizi zitalenga mahususi bidhaa za chuma ambazo zinaweza kutengenezwa ndani ya Uingereza.

Licha ya vikwazo hivi vinavyozidi kukaza, makubaliano yaliyofikiwa kupitia CETA yanahakikisha kuwa wasafirishaji wa India bado wanaweza kufanya kazi ndani ya mipaka thabiti kwa sehemu kubwa ya usafirishaji wao.

Changamoto Inayokaribia ya Ushuru wa Kaboni Unapovuka Mipaka

While the steel safeguard issue has seen a breakthrough, Indian industry faces another significant regulatory challenge: the UK’s Import Carbon Pricing Mechanism (the UK's version of the EU's CBAM). Scheduled to come into force in 2027, this mechanism aims to tax carbon-intensive imports.

According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Indian exports worth approximately USD 775 million could be impacted by this carbon tax. The sectors most at risk include iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser, and cement. Once the free allowances under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are phased out, the tax could range between 14% and 24% of the total import value. With India's iron and steel exports to the UK valued at USD 893.4 million in 2025-26, the stakes for navigating these green trade barriers remain exceptionally high.

Key Takeaways

• Significant Protection: 85% of India's steel exports to the UK are shielded from new restrictive measures through a mix of specific quotas and authorized schemes.
• Tightened UK Limits: From July 2026, the UK will reduce tariff-free steel quotas by 60%, imposing a 50% tariff on any imports exceeding those limits.
• Future Carbon Risks: While steel safeguards are resolved, Indian exporters must prepare for the UK's carbon tax (effective 2027), which could impact USD 775 million worth of goods.