With sales of 140 million cases in 2011, “whisky” accounts for 60% of India’s enormous spirits market and is estimated to grow at around 15% in 2012, according to the UK-based Scotch Whisky Association. But UK-made Scotch Whisky’s share of the whisky category is just 1%. A major reason for this is the 150% import duty imposed on imported scotch.
An SWA delegation to New Delhi met the Indian chief negotiator and briefed him on the absence of any credible threat to the domestic industry that would result from tariff liberalization.
