New Delhi
A leading alcoholic beverages industry body has warned the government to “tread carefully” on a planned free trade deal with the UK, citing a massive increase in imports of Scotch whiskey from the United Kingdom.
“According to the Scotch Whiskey Association, India has become the largest export market for Scotch whiskey globally. This is also supported by the Indian government’s import data, which shows that the import of Scotch whiskey has increased by 148% in the period April to September 2022 as compared to the same period last year. Beverage Companies (CIABC). Compared to the massive increase in imports of Scotch whisky, the domestic industry “grew a little over 20%”, Mr Giri said. He argued that even without an FTA between the UK and India, the growth in sales of Scotch whiskey “questions the very need for an FTA”.
“We would also like to highlight the importance of minimum entry price of $5 per bottle for a product to avail concessions under the FTA. In the absence of such safeguards, we can bid goodbye to the domestic industry,” Mr. Giri he said.