Customs duty from European Union to India: Import Duty Guide

Key Takeaways

• An EU-India Free Trade Agreement was signed on 27 January 2026, but as of this writing it is NOT yet in force.
• Entry into force is targeted for early 2027, pending EU Council approval, European Parliament consent, and approval from India’s own government.
• Until the agreement takes effect, EU-origin goods pay India’s standard MFN duty stack, with no preferential treatment currently in effect.
• India’s imports from the EU reached €48.9 billion in 2025, within total EU-India goods trade of more than €118 billion.
• This mirrors the same “signed but not yet applicable” situation covered on this site’s India to EU lane page from the reverse direction - the same agreement, the same timeline.

EU-India Trade at a Glance

India’s imports from the EU reached €48.9 billion in 2025, within total EU-India goods trade of more than €118 billion for the year (European Commission). Machinery and appliances, transport equipment, optical and medical instruments, and chemicals dominate what the EU sells into India.

Is There a Trade Deal Between the EU and India? (Signed, But Not Yet In Force)

Yes, but not yet applicable - the same situation covered from the other direction on this site’s India to EU lane page. Negotiations resumed in 2022 after being stalled since 2013, and formally concluded with a signing on 27 January 2026 at the EU-India Summit in New Delhi. The agreement now needs EU Council approval and European Parliament consent, plus approval from India’s own Union Council of Ministers, before it actually takes effect - both sides have reaffirmed a target of entry into force in early 2027 (EUbusiness).

How Much Will You Pay Importing from the EU to India Right Now?

As of this writing, the FTA has no current legal effect, so EU-origin goods pay India’s standard duty stack in full: Basic Customs Duty (typically 0-20% for most consumer goods, though some categories run higher), a Social Welfare Surcharge equal to 10% of the BCD amount, and Integrated GST at 5-28% depending on category, all calculated on the CIF customs value. India has no general duty-free threshold for commercial imports of any value - only a narrow ₹5,000 exemption for genuine personal gifts exists, and it explicitly excludes disguised e-commerce purchases. This site will update this page once the agreement is confirmed to have entered into force.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EU-India FTA in force right now?

No. It was signed on 27 January 2026, but requires EU-side and Indian government ratification steps that were still in progress as of this writing - entry into force is currently targeted for early 2027.

What tariff do EU goods pay into India today?

India’s standard MFN duty stack - Basic Customs Duty, a 10% surcharge on that duty, and Integrated GST at 5-28% - since the signed FTA has no legal effect yet.

Is this the same agreement covered on the India to EU lane page?

Yes - it’s a single agreement covering both directions of trade. See that page for the EU-side story, including what changes for Indian exporters once it takes effect.

How big is EU-India trade?

India’s imports from the EU reached €48.9 billion in 2025, within combined EU-India goods trade of more than €118 billion - a relationship expected to grow further once the signed FTA actually takes effect in 2027.