The India-UK free trade agreement, GSP, GCC duty and RODTEP all affect spice trade, but in different ways. The first two can lower the duty you pay at import. GCC duty is the import tariff in Gulf markets. RODTEP is an Indian export refund that helps your supplier, not your customs bill.
Rules and dates change, so confirm the current position with your customs broker before you rely on any of them.
Does the India-UK FTA lower duty on spices?
India and the UK signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in 2025. A free trade agreement only lowers duty once it is in force and once the goods qualify under its rules of origin. Check the UK Government's trade agreement pages for the entry-into-force date and the tariff schedule for your commodity code.
Even then, the reduction applies only if the shipment carries the proof of origin that the agreement requires. A standard certificate of origin may not be enough. Our article on how the India-UK and India-EU agreements affect duty covers what to ask your supplier for.
What happened to GSP for Indian goods?
GSP stands for Generalised System of Preferences. Rich countries use it to give lower duty to developing countries. For Indian spices, it no longer delivers what it once did:
- The EU applies GSP only to products where the beneficiary country is not yet competitive, and India has lost preferences on many product groups. Check TARIC for your code.
- The UK replaced its GSP in 2023 with the Developing Countries Trading Scheme. Look up your commodity code on GOV.UK to see which rate applies to India.
- The USA removed India from its GSP programme in 2019, and the programme itself has since lapsed. Do not assume a US preference exists.
How does GCC duty work for food imports?
The Gulf Cooperation Council operates a customs union with a common external tariff. Many basic foods and spices attract a low common rate, but individual states can apply exemptions, extra measures and their own import conditions for food.
The rate is set per tariff line, so we do not quote one. Ask your clearing agent in Dubai, Riyadh or another Gulf port for the rate against your code. Also check the food import registration and labelling rules of the state you are shipping to, because those cause more delay than duty does.
What is RODTEP, and does it affect you?
RODTEP is the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products scheme. India refunds embedded central, state and local taxes to exporters as a percentage of the export value, at rates notified by the government for each product line. Some spices are covered and some are not.
RODTEP is paid to the exporter. It does not reduce the duty at your border, and you do not claim it. It matters in one way: it can ease the exporter's cost, so ask whether it is already reflected in the quote. A sourcing review can tell you how the supplier is treating it, but a real quote only comes with specific specifications and terms.
A short checklist before you rely on any scheme
- Get the HS code confirmed by your customs broker in the destination country.
- Ask your broker which rate applies today to Indian origin, and whether any scheme requires a specific proof of origin.
- Tell your supplier the proof of origin you need before production, not after loading.
- Keep copies of the invoice, packing list and origin proof for the period your customs authority requires.
- Read which preferential duty schemes apply to Indian agri products for the wider picture.
Next step
Schemes only help if the paperwork is right on the first shipment. We check origin documents and supplier papers as part of sourcing. To talk through your product and market, book a free sourcing review.