India-UK CETA delay stalls Scotch whisky duty cuts for Johnnie Walker, Chivas, Glenlivet

Implementation of the India-UK trade pact faces delays as UK steel safeguards and a 14-24% CBAM carbon tax remain unresolved. The deal slashes Scotch whisky tariffs from 150% to 75% on day one, then to 40% by year 10—a major retail unlock for Diageo and Pernod Ricard brands. USD 775M in Indian exports also hang in the balance.

— Source publishedMon, 1 Jun, 2026, 18:10 IST·First seen Mon, 1 Jun, 2026, 18:23 IST·Source Times of India · Business

What happened

India-UK CETA · India-UK trade pact rollout faces delays over UK steel safeguards and CBAM carbon tax. Whisky tariff cuts (150% to 75%, then 40%) on Scotch

Key facts

  • USD 775 million exports at risk
  • USD 893.4 million iron/steel exports
  • 150% to 75% whisky duty cut
  • 40% in year 10
  • 14-24% carbon tax

Why this matters

Treat the CETA delay as a window to lock JV terms, bottling capacity, and distributor equity in India before tariff cuts trigger competitive M&A repricing across the Scotch portfolio.