India's alco-bev industry expects the trade deal with the UK, set to take effect on July 15, to accelerate premiumisation and provide consumers with greater access to higher-quality imported spirits. At the same time, the industry stakeholders say that the government should withdraw the preferential treatment extended to Bottled-in-Origin (BIO) imported products, contending that these concessions create a structural disadvantage for Indian-made products.
Under the free-trade agreement (FTA), India will be reducing duty on UK whisky and gin from 150% to 75% and further to 40% in the tenth year of the deal.
