Modest Gold Import Quotas: Analyzing India-UAE Trade Agreement Impact

India's concessional duty quota for gold imports from the UAE under the CEPA has seen modest use. Despite TRQ provisions, only a small share of gold is imported through this mechanism. Import duties and taxes have increased, affecting overall trade dynamics, while bilateral trade ambitions grow.


Devdiscourse News Desk | New Delhi | Updated: 14-05-2026 21:24 IST | Created: 14-05-2026 21:24 IST
Modest Gold Import Quotas: Analyzing India-UAE Trade Agreement Impact
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The concessional duty quota for gold imports from the UAE, under a free trade agreement with India, has not seen significant utilization, according to an official statement. Implemented on May 1, 2022, the India-UAE CEPA included a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for importing gold bullion at a reduced duty rate.

Despite the agreement, the data shows that gold imports through the TRQ mechanism were limited, comprising only 5 to 18 percent of total imports across recent fiscal years. As import duty rates increased from 6 to 15 percent alongside IGST adjustments, the actual usage of the TRQ remains marginal.

Trade between the two nations remains robust, with the UAE ranking as India's seventh-largest source of FDI. Both countries are targeting a USD 100 billion non-oil trade by 2030, despite the challenges faced in gold import dynamics under the existing agreement.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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