FTA ya India-UK: Kikwazo Kikubwa cha Mauzo ya Chuma Kimeondolewa kwa Biashara za India

Mgogoro wa muda mrefu kuhusu biashara ya chuma chini ya Makubaliano ya Biashara Huria ya India-UK hatimaye umetatuliwa, jambo ambalo ni hatua muhimu kwa biashara ya pande mbili. Kwa asilimia 85 ya mauzo ya chuma ya India kulindwa dhidi ya hatua za ulinzi za Uingereza zinazokuja, makubaliano haya yanatoa njia ya uhusiano wa kibiashara wenye urahisi zaidi kati ya mataifa hayo mawili.

Hatua Kubwa katika Mazungumzo ya Ulinzi wa Chuma

Kikwazo kikubwa katika utekelezaji wa Makubaliano ya Kiuchumi na Biashara ya Kina (CETA) kimeondolewa. Mpango wa ulinzi wa chuma uliopendekezwa na UK, ambao ulikuwa kama kikwazo muhimu tangu mkataba uliposainiwa mnamo Julai 24, 2025, umepata suluhu ya mafanikio. Mataifa yote mawili yamefikia mwafaka wa kihistoria wa kulinda na kukuza biashara ya chuma ya pande mbili, kuhakikisha kuwa wasataji wa India wanakabiliwa na usumbufu mdogo wa soko.

Makubaliano hayo yanatarajiwa kuanza kutumika kuanzia Julai 15. Hatua hii kubwa inafuatia mazungumzo ya ngazi ya juu kati ya Waziri wa Biashara na Viwanda wa India Piyush Goyal na Waziri wa Biashara wa UK Peter Kyle, yaliyolenga kusawazisha maslahi ya kibiashara na kudumisha mazingira thabiti ya biashara.

Jinsi India Alivyopata Ulinzi kwa Wasataji Wake

Mpango mpya wa UK, uliopangwa kuanza kutumika Julai 1, 2026, ni mkali zaidi kuliko mifumo ya awali. Sheria mpya zitapunguza uingizaji wa chuma bila ushuru na kupunguza jumla ya kiasi cha kotala kwa 60% ikilinganishwa na mifumo ya ulinzi iliyopo. Uingizaji wowote utakaozidi kotala hizi utawekewa ushuru mkubwa wa 50%.

Licha ya mipaka hii inayozidi kuwa mikali, India imefanikiwa kujadili mkakati wa ulinzi wa ngazi nyingi. Kulingana na taarifa rasmi, asilimia 85 ya mauzo ya chuma ya India yatabaki nje ya hatua hizi za kizuizi. Ulinzi huu umepatikana kupitia mchanganyiko wa kimkakati wa:

Changamoto za Baadaye: Kivuli cha Ushuru wa Kaboni

While the steel quota issue has been settled, Indian industry must now prepare for the next wave of regulatory hurdles: the UK's Import Carbon Pricing Mechanism (the UK's version of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, or CBAM). Set to come into force in 2027, this mechanism will impose carbon taxes on carbon-intensive sectors.

According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Indian exports worth approximately USD 775 million could be impacted by this upcoming tax. The mechanism will initially target sectors including iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser, hydrogen, ceramics, glass, and cement. Once free allowances under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are phased out, the tax could range between 14% and 24% of the import value. Given that India's iron and steel exports to the UK stood at USD 893.4 million in 2025-26, addressing carbon footprints will be critical for long-term competitiveness.

Key Takeaways