NEWS
CHINA HALVES WHISKY TARIFFS TO 5% TODAY AFTER STARMER VISIT
By Staff Reporter
2-2-2026
Source: Unsplash
China reduces its tariffs on whisky from 10 percent to 5 percent, after the two countries' leaders met last week to repair fraught ties.
The lowering of tariff rate will take effect today, according to a statement by China's State Council.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office, which announced the deal last Thursday, said it would be worth £250 million (USD344.13 million) to UK exporters over the next five years.
Scotch whisky tariffs were among the items discussed by Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping last Thursday in Beijing, where the two pledged greater cooperation in trade, investment and technology.
China imported USD445.5 million worth of whisky in 2025, of which 84 percent was from the UK, according to customs data and Reuters calculations.
Beijing had in 2017 set a 5 percent provisional tariff rate on whisky imports, but removed the provision for 2025, in effect hiking the rate to 10 percent.
China agreed to strengthen labelling requirements for Scotch whisky to help protect it from counterfeiting and tampering a year ago during a financial dialogue when British finance minister Rachel Reeves visited Beijing.
In 2024 China was the tenth biggest export market for Scotch whisky, according to Scotch Whisky Association figures, which also showed the Asia-Pacific is its largest regional market by value
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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