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Export Tariffs &
Trade Agreements

UK alcohol exports are a strategic asset for HM Government's trade agenda. Bilateral tariff cuts in the United States, China and India have shown what targeted negotiation delivers.

The next priorities are Vietnam, Brazil, Korea and the Gulf states. Geographical indication protection, lot code recognition and customs facilitation matter alongside the headline tariff numbers.

UK alcohol exports and bilateral trade agreements with priority international markets
CategoryTrade & Market AccessStatusActive Advocacy

Read as

For everyone: Tariff barriers translate directly into shelf price competitiveness in destination markets. The Department for Business and Trade has demonstrated the value of treating alcohol-sector wins as headline outcomes; maintaining that prioritisation is the next phase of the work.

Why this matters

Shelf-price competitiveness

A 10% tariff differential is often the difference between a UK producer winning a national distribution slot in a destination market and losing it to a domestic or third-country competitor. Tariff outcomes show up directly on shelf and on category share.

Sector economic weight

Scotch Whisky alone generated £7.1bn in UK Gross Value Added in 2022 and supported 66,000 UK jobs.3 The wider UK spirits, wine, beer and cider sectors employ tens of thousands more across producers, suppliers, logistics and hospitality.

GI protection

Geographical indication recognition is the difference between a UK GI producer enforcing against a third-country imitation in a destination market and watching the imitation take share. GI commitments need to be in every relevant trade agreement.

Our position

  • DBT should continue to prioritise alcohol-sector outcomes (tariffs, GIs, lot codes, customs facilitation) in bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements.

  • GI protection is essential. Any trade agreement involving categories such as Scotch Whisky, Welsh Whisky, English Sparkling Wine and equivalent UK GIs should include reciprocal GI recognition.

  • Outstanding tariff barriers in priority markets (Vietnam, Brazil, Korea, the Gulf states, parts of South-East Asia) should be addressed with the same prioritisation given to the US, China and India.

  • Future agreements should publish alcohol-sector commitments in a structured factsheet at signature, with year-by-year tariff schedules and entry-into-force conditions clearly stated.

  • Where tariff cuts are staged over multiple years, monitoring of actual market access (customs implementation, label acceptance, GI enforcement) should accompany the schedule.

What we are calling for

Vietnam, Brazil and Korea on the priority list

Formal inclusion of UK alcohol exports as a named negotiating priority in DBT engagement with Vietnam, Brazil and Korea, with target tariff reductions and GI commitments.

GI protection in every agreement

Reciprocal GI recognition for the full set of UK alcohol GIs in any trade agreement covering categories where UK GIs apply, with enforcement mechanisms specified.

Standardised alcohol-sector trade factsheets

A standardised DBT trade factsheet template covering tariff schedules, GI commitments, customs measures and entry-into-force timing, published at signature for every agreement covering the alcohol sector.

Annual market access monitoring

An annual DBT report tracking actual implementation of staged tariff cuts and GI commitments in priority markets, including customs disputes and enforcement actions.

Sector engagement before negotiating mandates

Structured pre-mandate consultation with UK alcohol producers and trade associations before DBT negotiating mandates are finalised for any priority-market agreement.

How we engage

Alcohol Ltd's policy programme covers the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Revenue & Customs and parliamentary committees with trade policy oversight, including monitoring of UK government trade consultations and International Trade Committee inquiries.

To register interest or share material relevant to this topic, write to policy@alcohol.uk.

Primary sources

Disclaimer. This page sets out Alcohol Ltd’s own policy positions and analysis of publicly available information at the time of publication. It is provided for general industry information and does not constitute legal, regulatory, tax, financial or other professional advice. Statutory references and external data may change without notice. External links are provided for reference; Alcohol Ltd is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

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