AEPC FTA Seminar in Tiruppur Puts Rules of Origin First

26 August 2026: On August 25, 2026, the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) reported that it had held an FTA seminar at Poppys Vista Hotel in Tiruppur. The AEPC FTA seminar in Tiruppur explained Rules of Origin, tariff claims and export documentation, showing apparel exporters what they must do before trade-agreement preferences can cut import duties.

The programme formed part of AEPC’s pan-India FTA seminar series, which began in Bengaluru on June 25, 2026. Kotak Mahindra Bank supported the Tiruppur session.

What did the AEPC FTA seminar in Tiruppur cover ?

AEPC Secretary General Mithileshwar Thakur told participants that signing an agreement does not guarantee lower duties. Exporters must identify the correct tariff preference, satisfy the relevant origin rule, keep supporting records and claim the concession correctly.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mangla of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies covered Product-Specific Rules, Change in Tariff Heading and Qualifying Value Content. These tests decide whether a garment qualifies as Indian-origin goods under a particular agreement. The applicable rule can also affect sourcing, costing and buyer negotiations.

The official UK-India CETA Rules of Origin chapter confirms that goods must be wholly obtained or sufficiently processed in the UK or India to receive preferential tariffs. It also sets out origin declarations, certificates and product-specific rules.

What is the status of the UK and EU trade agreements ?

The UK-India CETA text was published in July 2025 and updated in July 2026. The UK says it will liberalise tariffs on most Indian exports when the agreement takes effect, but the exact benefit depends on the product’s tariff line and origin compliance. Screen Print India has also covered the deal’s expected effect on apparel exports.

India and the European Union have moved beyond negotiation. The European Commission records that FTA negotiations concluded on January 27, 2026. Exporters still need the agreement to take effect before claiming its preferences.

What should apparel exporters prepare now ?

• Confirm the HS classification and tariff treatment for each product.
• Check the Product-Specific Rule before fixing fabric and trim sourcing.
• Build origin evidence, costing records and certificate procedures into order planning.

• Test the tariff claim before quoting buyers or promising duty savings.

AEPC Chairman A. Sakthivel urged exporters to increase capacity and pursue new buyers, while a question-and-answer session addressed practical compliance issues. The useful message was narrower: market access becomes an order only when a shipment meets the agreement’s product, origin and documentation rules.