India may freeze Scotch duty cut at 75% as Delhi seeks 'scotch for steel' rebalance with UK
New Delhi is signalling it could withhold FTA concessions on British Scotch and gin—set to drop from 150% to 75% duty, then 40% over 10 years—unless London eases steel safeguards. A reversal would reshape pricing and assortment plans for India's premium alcobev retail, where SWA pegs the UK opportunity at £25.5 billion by 2040.
What happened
India-UK FTA · India may recalibrate FTA concessions on British Scotch whisky and gin, currently slated to drop from 150% to 75% duty, if UK does not ease steel
Key facts
- 150% to 75%
- 40% over 10 years
- £25.5 billion by 2040
Why this matters
Revisit UK Scotch distribution and JV terms to include duty-contingent triggers, since a frozen 75% tariff floor materially shifts landed economics versus the planned 40% glidepath.