UK-India FTA live July 15: whisky duty crashes 150% to 40%, auto tariffs to 10%
Premium import economics reset as UK-India trade pact takes effect July 15. Scotch whisky tariffs fall from 150% to 40%, auto duties from 100% to 10% under quota, and cosmetics duties up to 22% are eliminated. £400M in year-one tariff cuts reshape pricing for premium retail categories.
What happened
India-UK FTA · UK-India FTA takes effect July 15, slashing whisky tariffs from 150% to 40%, auto duties from 100% to 10% under quota, and eliminating cosmetics
Key facts
- whisky tariff 150% to 40%
- auto tariff 100% to 10%
- cosmetics duties up to 22% eliminated
- £25.5 billion bilateral trade
- £400 million tariff cuts year one
Why this matters
FTA live-date creates a 90-day window to lock Indian distribution JVs or acquire on-the-ground importers before scotch, auto, and cosmetics multiples reprice upward.