New Delhi, June 27 -- The India-UK free trade agreement serves as the template for New Delhi's strategy to negotiate comprehensive deals beyond tariffs and rules of origin, commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, noting that the Indian government values deep collaboration over transactional partnerships. Goyal stated that 1,000 advisory personnel will be deployed across the country to help businesses maximize the benefits of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), due to become operational on July 15. The pact is projected to increase bilateral trade by GBP 25.5 billion (approximately $34 billion) annually, according to a commerce ministry statement. Bilateral trade between the two countries currently stands at $56 billion, with a target to double this figure by 2030. "India, today, does not wish to negotiate weak agreements. Substandard, small, transactional relationships. In fact, the UK agreement is a template, which is very comprehensive. It's not only about tariffs and rules of origin, it's not only about trades in goods and services; it's about collaborations in technology, in education, culture, arts," Goyal said.Goyal made the remarks while participating in a series of high-level engagements during a three-day visit to the UK, including the 10th Annual UK-India Week in London on Friday. Highlighting the opportunities from the upcoming July 15 implementation of CETA, the minister said: "It's focused on bringing the best of both countries to each other. It's fair, equitable, very balanced agreement." He stated that the two partners negotiated the deal in a spirit of fairness and were "very sensitive" to each other's interests and concerns. The groundwork for CETA was laid in May 2021 through the adoption of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, which set the goal of elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and doubling trade to $100 billion by 2030. Following 14 intensive rounds of negotiations, CETA was concluded on May 6, 2025. The agreement was signed on July 24, 2025, in London by Goyal and his then UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British prime minister Keir Starmer. A companion Double Contribution Convention (DCC) was subsequently signed on February 10. Addressing industry leaders, Goyal stated that CETA is part of a broader strategic partnership with several dimensions, including collaborations in technology, investments, defence, and critical minerals. He said the two partners share objectives to counter terrorism, promote global peace and stability, and strengthen multilateral institutions by instituting good practices.The India-UK CETA represents a partnership between two complementary economies, Goyal stated. "If our businesses leverage benefits of CETA, well the sky is the limit," he said. "Our negotiators have done a fabulous job in finalizing a very fair, equitable and balanced deal. Irrespective of ministers may have been changed, I must complement the UK for continuity in decisions and continuity in following through what was already negotiated."The comments followed Goyal receiving a special award for exceptional leadership in elevating UK-India relations at the Annual UK-India Awards 2026 in London....